Missouri Southern State University campus
Missouri Southern State University logo

Missouri Southern State University

Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale City: Small
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Common app member Yes
Dormitory capacity 735
Student to faculty ratio 15 to 1
Acceptance rate 97%
Students retention rate 59%
On-time graduation rate 37%

Located in Joplin, Missouri, MSSU is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

The acceptance rate of 97% indicates that MSSU is open to a wide range of applicants, providing opportunities for a diverse student body.

Missouri Southern State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at MSSU is reported to be 37%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Missouri state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 51% whereas the national average was 49%.

The retention rate of students at MSSU is 59% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Missouri is 72%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at MSSU do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

96.9%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$7,244

Cost of attendance at Missouri Southern State University in 2022 for students from Missouri.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Missouri's average $9,083
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$14,836

Cost of attendance at Missouri Southern State University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Missouri's average $19,257
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 94 of freshman students at Missouri Southern State University received on average $6,885 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$6,885
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 357 56% $4,729 $1,688,285
Other Federal Grant 556 88% $3,727 $2,072,217
State Grant/Scholarships 256 40% $1,837 $470,300
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 441 70% $3,555 $1,567,645
Total Grant & Scholarships 597 94% $6,885 $4,110,162

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Missouri Southern State University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Missouri Southern State University students is 37.0%. Female students graduated at a rate of 42.2%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 29.6%.

37.0%

  • asian 50.0% 6 students
  • African American 14.1% 9 students
  • white 39.7% 271 students
  • unknown 36.4% 8 students
  • hispanic 32.7% 17 students
  • International Students 80.0% 4 students
  • Mixed Race 18.2% 4 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
  • Baseball Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
  • Basketball Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association
  • Track and Cross Country Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Missouri Southern State University provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Missouri Southern State University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)