
3950 E Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801-1595, USA


Missouri Southern State University exhibits relatively low graduation rates, with an overall completion rate of 38%, placing it in the bottom 20% nationally. Male students graduate at a slightly lower rate of 35%, while female students graduate at 41%, with women's rate also ranking in the bottom 15%. The university's four-year graduation rate stands at 23%, reflecting challenges in timely degree completion and positioning it among the lower performing institutions in this measure. Similarly, the six-year graduation rate is 35%, indicating that just over one-third of students complete their degrees within six years, again ranking in the bottom 15% compared to peers.
Retention rates that indicate the share of students continuing their studies from the first to the second year average 70%, which is seen as an average performance but still falls in the lower 35% percentile nationwide. This retention percentage suggests that while a majority of students remain enrolled after their first year, a significant portion does not continue, contributing to the low graduation outcomes.
Graduates from Missouri Southern State University experience a range of earnings depending on their field of study, with some degrees offering notably higher income potential. Among the strongest earning opportunities are those in the health-related professions. For example, graduates in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing report median earnings up to $53,753 annually, while those in Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences earn around $47,016. Public Health majors also see competitive earnings, with a median income of $45,227.
Computer and Information Sciences graduates stand out with median earnings of $50,466, highlighting technology fields as lucrative paths. Business-related degrees also offer respectable returns; general Business/Commerce graduates earn a median of $38,297 annually.
Other disciplines show more modest median earnings. Criminal Justice and Corrections majors make approximately $31,903, which is slightly above Education and Teacher Education graduates, who earn around $30,122 to $30,300. Fields like Psychology and Social Work correspond to annual incomes of about $29,594 and $29,866, respectively.
Several liberal arts and sciences degrees offer varied earnings, albeit lower on average: Communication and Media Studies graduates earn roughly $31,697, Liberal Arts and Humanities graduates earn close to $29,462, and Sociology majors report earnings near $28,024. Biology graduates earn around $26,859, while Fine and Studio Arts have a median earning of $21,863.
Career Centers:
Full time employees: 1
Part time employees: Data not available
Career Counselling:
Individual: All undergraduates
Group: All undergraduates
Career Center services:
Other information:
Job bank on campus
YesJob fairs on campus
YesIndividual job placement
All undergraduatesOn campus employer recruitment
All undergraduatesBACHELOR’S Degree
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Education
Engineering/Engineering-related Technologies/Technicians
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
English Language and Literature/Letters
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
History
MASTER’S Degree
Education
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services