Missouri State University-West Plains
Missouri State University-West Plains — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Missouri State University-West Plains at a Glance
Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University, is a public university in Springfield, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School, it is the state's second-largest university by enrollment, with an enrollment of 23,418 in the fall semester of 2023. The school also offers associate degree programs at two-year campus in West Plains, Missouri and a bachelor's degree in business program at Liaoning Normal University in China. The university…
Is Missouri State University-West Plains Worth It?
There isn't enough publicly available data to calculate a definitive value score for Missouri State University-West Plains. This may be due to the institution's size, reporting gaps, or the specific programs offered.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
Best Programs at Missouri State University-West Plains
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Missouri State University-West Plains. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,750/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in MO
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- West Plains, MO
- Student Body
- 965 students
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,750
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,922
- Median Student Debt
- $10,000