Missouri Southern State University is a public, state university located in Joplin, Missouri. It was established in 1937 as Joplin Junior College and became a four-year college in 1968. The university offers an array of degrees and programs in diverse areas of study.
MSSU is home to several student organizations, which include Student Senate, Campus Activities Board, over 30 Departmental organizations, 10 honors organizations, 7 religious organizations, and more than 15 special interest organizations. The university also has a school newspaper, known as the Chart, and an alumni magazine, named the Crossroads.
Missouri Southern fields both men’s and women’s sports teams. They participate in football, softball, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, dodgeball and billiards.
Joplin, MO is home to Missouri Southern. Joplin is a small city. The school is a public institution. Degrees at Missouri Southern go up to the Master's degree.
Students commonly pursue studies in security and law enforcement.
Prospective students are advised that admissions are not open to all; the school selects from among qualified applicants.
The school has a tenure system for senior faculty.
Missouri Southern has 5,593 enrolled students (as of 2007-2008).
A lot of students at the school attend part-time. Missouri Southern values student athletics, and belongs to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The school is a relative bargain, with lower tuition and fees than most schools offering similar degrees.
More complete details are provided below.
Missouri Southern State University
3950 E Newman Rd
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
General Phone: (417) 625-9300
http://www.mssu.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Management | 177 | business management, business, accounting, operations management, finance, marketing, financial planning, international business, ... |
| Liberal Arts | 123 | general studies, sociology, liberal arts and sciences, English, Spanish language, political science, history, international studies, ... |
| Education and Teaching | 121 | elementary school teaching, secondary teaching, middle school teaching, instructional media design, education, computer teaching, kindergarten/preschool teaching |
| Security and Law Enforcement | 100 | criminal justice and administration, criminal justice and police, juvenile corrections, criminal justice and safety |
| Medical Support and Technology | 72 | dental hygienist, respiratory care tech, health service and sciences, radiographer, clinical lab tech, radiation therapist |
| Science | 44 | biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, bioinformatics |
| Nursing and Emergency Medicine | 37 | registered nursing |
| Therapy and Counseling | 30 | psychology |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 23 | systems analyst, computer and info science, computer programming, computer and info science courses, computer science, webmastering, computer networking |
| Media | 21 | public relations, mass communication, communication studies |
| Engineering Technician | 15 | industrial tech, CAD and design, mechanical drafting, engineering technician, manufacturing tech, computer systems tech |
| Nutrition and Exercise Therapy | 12 | health and physical education, health and fitness |
| Fine Arts | 11 | fine arts |
| Medical Administration | 7 | environmental health, health and medical administrative |
| Mathematics | 6 | mathematics, mathematics and computer science |
| Music | 2 | music performance |
| Drama and Performing Arts | 2 | drama |
| Production Trades | 1 | machine shop assistant |
| Art Studies | 0 | art studies |
| Engineering | 0 | industrial engineering |
| Medicine | 0 | health professions |
Number of programs and degrees for Missouri Southern in 2008-2009:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 673 | 59 |
| Associate's degree | 125 | 19 |
| Master's degree | 6 | 4 |
In 2007-2008, Missouri Southern had a total enrollment of 5,593 students (3,659 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 45% |
| Women | 55% |
| Full-Time | 94% |
| Part-Time | 6% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 98% |
| Graduate | 2% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| Unknown | 83% |
| (Foreign Students) | 17% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 4% |
| 18-19 | 23% |
| 20-21 | 23% |
| 22-24 | 16% |
| 25-29 | 12% |
| 30-34 | 8% |
| 35-39 | 5% |
| 40-49 | 6% |
| 50-64 | 3% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Missouri | 77% |
| Arkansas | 4% |
| Oklahoma | 4% |
| Kansas | 3% |
| Texas | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 62 % |
| Part-Time | 36 % |
Missouri Southern offers campus housing for 720 of its 3,659 (full-time) students.
(Please refer to our profile of Joplin, Missouri for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Missouri Colleges).
The school does not offer students a meal plan.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,382 | 1,330 | 96% | 771 | 58% |
| Men | 609 | 585 | 96% | 349 | 60% |
| Women | 773 | 745 | 96% | 422 | 57% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| ACT Verbal | 19 | 26 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 25 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | recommended |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | recommended |
| Recommendations | not required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 92% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 4,530 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 8,534 |
| Room and board | $ 5,382 |
| Books and supplies | $ 800 |
| Other expenses | $ 3,150 |
Financial Aid:
Missouri Southern participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 248800)
Missouri Southern has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 81 | 48 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 17 | 21 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 30 | 18 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate professor | calendar year | 1 | * | 1 | * |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 4 | $57,880 | 0 | * |
| Instructor | calendar year | 12 | $35,037 | 1 | * |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 17 | $42,400 | 2 | * |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 44 | $74,304 | 24 | $68,820 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 30 | $58,314 | 21 | $54,000 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 31 | $44,543 | 34 | $44,661 |
| Instructor | academic year | 6 | $38,770 | 6 | $39,860 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 111 | $59,750 | 85 | $53,451 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Basketball | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Baseball | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Track | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 162 | 97 | 259 |
| Football | 88 | 0 | 88 |
| Track | 21 | 28 | 49 |
| Basketball | 11 | 13 | 24 |
| Baseball | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| All Other Sports | 24 | 56 | 80 |
ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business/Commerce, General
Finance, General
Financial Planning and Services
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Management Science, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Operations Management and Supervision
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Programming/Programmer, General
Computer Science
Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Computer and Information Sciences, Other
Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Computer Teacher Education
Education, General
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Elementary Education and Teaching
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
Secondary Education and Teaching
ENGINEERING
Industrial Engineering
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
Industrial Technology/Technician
Manufacturing Technology/Technician
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD
FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General
LIBERAL ARTS
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
General Studies
German Language and Literature
History, General
International Relations and Affairs
International/Global Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
Technical and Business Writing
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics and Computer Science
Mathematics, General
MEDIA
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Mass Communication/Media Studies
Public Relations/Image Management
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Environmental Health
Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
MEDICINE
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MUSIC
Music Performance, General
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Health and Physical Education, General
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, Other
PRODUCTION TRADES
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Bioinformatics
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Criminal Justice/Police Science
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Juvenile Corrections
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets Missouri Southern Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest tuition & fees (in-state) (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 14% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in security and law enforcement (vs. all colleges) | Top 15% | ![]() |
| % of freshmen enrolled part-time (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 19% | ![]() |
| % of accepted students who choose to enroll (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 20% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Offers credit for life experience
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Offers weekend classes
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Tenure system for quality teaching
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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