Mission University
Springfield, Missouri · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 15/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mission University scores 15 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale - one of the lowest scores in the full CampusROI dataset. The metrics are deeply concerning: $23,900 median 6-year earnings, a 61.9-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.095, and a 44.4% completion rate. The payback period of 61.9 years means graduates would need to work for more than six decades to recover their educational investment at current earnings levels. Median debt is $26,168 and net price of $21,383 exceeds sticker tuition of $16,950 - indicating students pay more net than sticker, a pattern suggesting minimal aid packaging or fee structures that inflate total cost. Scorecard does not report program-level data for Mission University; the programs array is empty. Admission rates and test score ranges are not reported. The institution is a small private nonprofit in Springfield, Missouri, with 381 students and a 55.9% Pell rate indicating heavy low-income enrollment. The repayment rate of 71.6% is the strongest data point in the profile, but against $23,900 median earnings and a 1.095 debt-to-earnings ratio, this reflects baseline loan management rather than financial health.
The data raises concerns about Mission University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score15/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.09 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Mission University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,950/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,950/yr |
| Average net price | $21,383/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,532 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,641 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $23,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,168 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 381 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,950/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,383/year, or roughly $85,532 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,017/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,029/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,168 in federal loans, which works out to about $277 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $38,641 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.09, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,017 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,383 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,064 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,307 |
| $110,001+ | $23,029 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $22,017 per year. Against $23,900 median 6-year earnings and a 61.9-year payback, this is a deeply adverse financial outcome for low-income students. A student borrowing to attend at $22,017/year is taking on debt that exceeds their expected annual earnings, with a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 and a repayment horizon that extends well beyond any reasonable career horizon. The 44.4% completion rate compounds the risk: more than half of low-income enrollees will not graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,064 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,307. Middle-income families at the higher bracket face a cost nearly equal to the $23,900 median earnings figure. The financial case at any middle-income price point is extremely difficult to justify based on Scorecard data alone.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $23,029 per year. Full-pay families considering this institution are unlikely to be in the high-income bracket given the institution's profile. Against $23,900 median 6-year earnings, even the most favorable cost scenario produces a marginal return. The data does not support a strong financial case for Mission University at any income level.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mission University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 381 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,474 |
Scorecard does not report an admission rate or test score ranges for Mission University. The small enrollment and absence of admissions data suggest a low-barrier enrollment process for a local mission-focused institution. Without reported selectivity data, the institution appears to operate as broadly open access. Completion, not admission, is the primary barrier: 44.4% of students who enroll graduate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Calvary University, Mitchell College, and Southwestern Christian University - all small faith-affiliated institutions with limited Scorecard data. Mission University's ROI of 15 places it near the bottom of the full dataset. Among faith-based institutions in our dataset, Mission (15) is the weakest, below Corban University (35) and Moody Bible Institute (36). The combination of 44.4% completion, $23,900 median earnings, and a 1.095 debt-to-earnings ratio is rare even among low-ranking institutions. The absence of program-level data means Scorecard cannot identify any specific track with better outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission University (this school) | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Calvary University | 30 | $16,334 | $45,421 |
| Mitchell College | 15 | $30,260 | $39,115 |
| Southwestern Christian University | 14 | $20,146 | $40,391 |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | 14 | $20,514 | $36,909 |
Who Thrives Here
Mission University does not report admissions rates or test score ranges to the Scorecard. Enrollment of 381 is very small. Pell grant rate of 55.9% indicates the majority of students are low-income or working-class. Average faculty salary of $4,474 per month is among the lowest in this dataset, suggesting extremely constrained academic resources. The institution serves a local Springfield, Missouri population, likely including adult learners and first-generation students. Students who enroll here should understand that the Scorecard earnings data shows median graduates earning $23,900 at six years - below the Missouri median household income.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Mission University are a real concern. With a net cost of $21,383 per year and the typical graduate earning only $38,641 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 44.4% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,168 against $38,641 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.