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Accessible2026-2027 admissions cycle

Missouri Southern State acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Missouri Southern State is a public university in Missouri that admits most qualified applicants (around 97%), which puts it in the accessible range. A rate like this means it admits most qualified applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Your odds at Missouri Southern State
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Missouri Southern State weighs, where it ranks among Missouri schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1100, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
97%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1150-1420
of admitted students
Type
Public
Joplin, MO
Average net price
$12,007
per year after aid

What do students study at Missouri Southern State?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Business, Management and Marketing · 157 (23.4%)Education · 86 (12.8%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 85 (12.7%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 83 (12.4%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 50 (7.5%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 40 (6%)Psychology · 24 (3.6%)Public Administration and Social Service · 24 (3.6%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 23 (3.4%)Visual and Performing Arts · 17 (2.5%)Computer and Information Sciences · 16 (2.4%)English Language and Literature · 14 (2.1%)

Will I get into Missouri Southern State?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Missouri Southern State, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Missouri Southern State?

At Missouri Southern State, your real chance depends on far more than the published 97% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Missouri Southern State in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Missouri Southern State hard to get into?

Missouri Southern State is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 97% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Missouri Southern State?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Missouri Southern State, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Missouri Southern State reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Missouri Southern State →

Your chances at Missouri Southern State by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Missouri Southern State for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Missouri Southern State with a 3.1 GPA and a 1290 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1290 SAT, the middle of Missouri Southern State's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1420 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Missouri Southern State by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 115025th pctSAT 1290middleSAT 142075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.598%Safety98%Safety98%Safety92%Safety
2.898%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.198%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/missouri-southern-state.

How to get into Missouri Southern State

Built from Missouri Southern State's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Getting into Missouri Southern State comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Missouri Southern State carries about a 2.93 core GPA and a 1370 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1150 to 1420 SAT (17 to 24 ACT). Submit a score at 1285 or higher; below 1150, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Missouri Southern State weighs

Missouri Southern State rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Missouri Southern State's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.mssu.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Missouri Southern State →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.mssu.edu ↗

How many students apply to Missouri Southern State, and how many get in?

2,302 students applied to Missouri Southern State for fall 2023; 2,243 were admitted (97.4%). 579 enrolled. Only about 26% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Missouri Southern State enrolls about 3,019 undergraduates in total, 60% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Applied
2,302
fall 2023
Admitted
2,243
97.4% of applicants
Enrolled
579
26% yield
Undergraduates
3,019
Joplin, small city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Missouri Southern State?

Admitted students at Missouri Southern State post SAT scores of 1150 to 1420 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1065. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 17 to 24. A score above 1420 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1150 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Missouri Southern State is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1150-1420
average 1065
ACT middle 50%
17-24
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Missouri Southern State looks for

What Missouri Southern State weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Missouri Southern State signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Missouri Southern State's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important

SAT score positioning at Missouri Southern State

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Missouri Southern State
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1100 SAT →Colleges for a 22 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Missouri Southern State cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Missouri Southern State (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $19,568 a year. Tuition and fees are $8,960 for MO residents and $17,080 for out-of-state students, a $8,120 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $12,007 a year, and it ranges from $9,759 for families earning under $30,000 to $15,083 for families earning over $110,000. 34% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$19,568
per year, before aid
Average net price
$12,007
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$8,960
$17,080 out of state
Pell recipients
34%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$9,759
$30k to $48k$10,132
$48k to $75k$11,233
$75k to $110k$14,578
Over $110k$15,083

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Missouri Southern State graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Missouri Southern State students ten years after entry are $42,620 ($37,866 at the six-year mark). 42% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 63% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,174; 33% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$42,620
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
42%
within six years
Retention
63%
return for year two
Median debt
$19,174
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Missouri Southern State compares in Missouri

Missouri Southern State ranks #34 most selective of 35 schools in Missouri in our database.

Among the 35 Missouri schools we track, Missouri Southern State ranks #34 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington University in St. Louis (12%) and College of the Ozarks (12%) sit nearby, which makes Missouri a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Washington University in St. Louis
12%acceptance · MO
College of the Ozarks
12%acceptance · MO
William Jewell College
38%acceptance · MO
Harris-Stowe State University
50%acceptance · MO
Lindenwood University
57%acceptance · MO
Drury University
58%acceptance · MO
Missouri-St. Louis
63%acceptance · MO
Central Missouri
64%acceptance · MO
See all Missouri schools →

Similar to Missouri Southern State

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Missouri Southern State is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Idaho State University, Texas Southern University, and University of Maine. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Idaho State University
97%acceptance · ID
Texas Southern University
97%acceptance · TX
University of Maine
97%acceptance · ME
University of Mississippi
97%acceptance · MS
University of Wyoming
97%acceptance · WY
Weber State University
97%acceptance · UT

Frequently asked questions

What is Missouri Southern State's acceptance rate?

Missouri Southern State admitted 2,243 of 2,302 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 97.4% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 26% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Missouri Southern State?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1150 to 1420 on the SAT and 17 to 24 on the ACT. A score above 1420 is in the top quarter of admits. Missouri Southern State is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Missouri Southern State test-optional?

Yes. Missouri Southern State reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Missouri Southern State cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Missouri Southern State, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $12,007 a year against a sticker price of about $19,568. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $9,759 on average.

What do Missouri Southern State graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Missouri Southern State are $42,620 a year among students who received federal aid, and 42% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Missouri Southern State value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Missouri Southern State weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Missouri Southern State favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Missouri Southern State generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Missouri Southern State?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Missouri Southern State specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Missouri Southern State?

As a public university, Missouri Southern State typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.