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Accessible2026-2027 admissions cycle

Missouri State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 91%, Missouri State University is an accessible public university in Missouri. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

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

Use this page to see what Missouri State University 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 1210, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
91%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1020-1270
of admitted students
Type
Public
Springfield, MO
Average net price
$17,613
per year after aid

What do students study at Missouri State University?

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 · 692 (21.7%)Education · 462 (14.5%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 294 (9.2%)Psychology · 252 (7.9%)Visual and Performing Arts · 205 (6.4%)Social Sciences · 193 (6.1%)Computer and Information Sciences · 162 (5.1%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 162 (5.1%)Agriculture and Agricultural Operations · 116 (3.6%)Communication and Journalism · 111 (3.5%)Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies · 97 (3%)Family and Consumer Sciences · 79 (2.5%)

Will I get into Missouri State University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Missouri State University?

Missouri State University admits most qualified applicants (around 91%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. 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 State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Missouri State University hard to get into?

Missouri State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 91% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

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

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Missouri State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Missouri State University 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 State University →

Your chances at Missouri State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Missouri State University 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 State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1150 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1150 SAT, the middle of Missouri State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1270 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 State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 102025th pctSAT 1150middleSAT 127075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.569%Likely89%Safety96%Safety84%Safety
2.890%Safety97%Safety98%Safety97%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-state-university.

How to get into Missouri State University

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

Here is how to get into Missouri State University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Missouri State University carries about a 3.00 core GPA and a 1220 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 1020 to 1270 SAT (19 to 26 ACT). Submit a score at 1145 or higher; below 1020, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Missouri State University weighs

Missouri State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores 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 State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.missouristate.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 State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.missouristate.edu ↗

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

For the fall 2023 entering class, Missouri State University received 11,901 applications and admitted 10,836, an acceptance rate of 91.1%. 2,841 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 State University enrolls about 13,313 undergraduates in total, 61% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 21 to 1.

Applied
11,901
fall 2023
Admitted
10,836
91.1% of applicants
Enrolled
2,841
26% yield
Undergraduates
13,313
Springfield, midsize city

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

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

Admitted students at Missouri State University post SAT scores of 1020 to 1270 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1122. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 19 to 26. A score above 1270 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1020 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Missouri State University 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%
1020-1270
average 1122
ACT middle 50%
19-26
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Missouri State University looks for

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

In its review, Missouri State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. 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 State University'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
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered

SAT score positioning at Missouri State University

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 State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1210 SAT →Colleges for a 25 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Missouri State University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Missouri State University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $25,048 a year. Tuition and fees are $9,502 for MO residents and $18,770 for out-of-state students, a $9,268 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 $17,613 a year, and it ranges from $13,718 for families earning under $30,000 to $20,576 for families earning over $110,000. 22% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$25,048
per year, before aid
Average net price
$17,613
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$9,502
$18,770 out of state
Pell recipients
22%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$13,718
$30k to $48k$13,529
$48k to $75k$14,905
$75k to $110k$18,770
Over $110k$20,576

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 State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Missouri State University students ten years after entry are $49,827 ($40,553 at the six-year mark). 58% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 77% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,992; 29% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$49,827
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
58%
within six years
Retention
77%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,992
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Missouri State University compares in Missouri

Missouri State University ranks #32 most selective of 35 schools in Missouri in our database.

Among the 35 Missouri schools we track, Missouri State University ranks #32 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 State University

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

Build around Missouri State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Cal State Fullerton, Cleveland State University, and Eastern Washington University. 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.

Cal State Fullerton
91%acceptance · CA
Cleveland State University
91%acceptance · OH
Eastern Washington University
91%acceptance · WA
Nicholls State University
91%acceptance · LA
Portland State University
91%acceptance · OR
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
91%acceptance · WI

Frequently asked questions

What is Missouri State University's acceptance rate?

Missouri State University admitted 10,836 of 11,901 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 91.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 26% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Missouri State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1020 to 1270 on the SAT and 19 to 26 on the ACT. A score above 1270 is in the top quarter of admits. Missouri State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Missouri State University test-optional?

Yes. Missouri State University 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 State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Missouri State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $17,613 a year against a sticker price of about $25,048. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $13,718 on average.

What do Missouri State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Missouri State University are $49,827 a year among students who received federal aid, and 58% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Missouri State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Missouri State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Missouri State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Missouri State University 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 State University?

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 State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Missouri State University?

As a public university, Missouri State University 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.

What are the admission requirements for Missouri State University?

Missouri State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

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.