Missouri Valley College
Marshall, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 69.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 16/100 · Poor Value
Missouri Valley College earns a 16 ROI score, deep in Poor Value tier. The financial picture is rough: tuition is $23,700 with a net price of $18,086, putting four-year total at $72,344. Ten-year median earnings of $43,221 produce just an 11.4 percent earnings premium over a high-school grad. Median federal debt of $25,950 against this earnings level yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.874 and a payback period of 25.8 years. The biggest drag is completion - just 22.4 percent of entering students earn a degree. Repayment is also weak at 61.5 percent three years out and drifting down to 52.5 percent at seven years, meaning the trajectory worsens for borrowers over time. Pell rate is 32 percent and enrollment is 1,443. Missouri Valley draws heavily from athletes (more than 30 varsity sports for an enrollment under 1,500), and the financial structure suggests many of those students leave before graduating. For students who do finish, the small business program produces decent earnings around $55K, but the 78 percent attrition rate is the dominant story.
The data raises concerns about Missouri Valley College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score16/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate22.4% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period25.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Missouri Valley College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $23,700/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,700/yr |
| Average net price | $18,086/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,344 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,221 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,950 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $275 |
| Estimated payback period | 25.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 22.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,443 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Missouri Valley College is $23,700/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,086/year, or roughly $72,344 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,132/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,669/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,950 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $275 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,221 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.87 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $16,132 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,854 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,039 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,499 |
| $110,001+ | $22,669 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $16,132 per year net, about $64,500 over four. Pell plus Missouri Access Grants close some of the gap; the rest requires Direct loans. Note the inverted bracket: $30,001-$48,000 households pay LESS ($15,854) than under-$30K, and $48,001-$75,000 pays similar ($16,039). This flat middle pattern is common at tuition-discount-heavy small privates.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001 to $75,000 pay $16,039 per year, about $64,200 over four. Essentially flat with low-income pricing. Federal Direct loans plus modest family contribution cover this for most middle-income families. The earnings outcome ($43K) makes the math tight regardless of bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $22,669 per year, about $90,700 over four. Close to sticker. Affluent families have many better options at this price point in Missouri (Mizzou in-state, St. Louis University, Truman State) - the chief reason to enroll at MoVal at this price is athletic recruitment, not academic value.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Missouri Valley College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,699 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,877 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $61,525 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program with 42 graduates. One-year earnings of $37,536 climb to $55,699 by year four, against $28,000 median debt - a 0.746 ratio and D grade. Marshall and central Missouri small-business economy hires from this pipeline at modest pay. The earnings climb at year four suggests graduates who relocate to Kansas City, St. Louis, or Columbia for better-paying roles.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 33 graduates with one-year earnings of $33,892 and four-year of $49,877, against $28,708 debt - 0.847 ratio and D grade. Many enrolled students are MoVal athletes pursuing a kinesiology track as part of their athletic identity. The pathway to professional pay requires graduate work in PT, OT, or PA; without that, graduates land in fitness management or coaching roles at modest pay.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing produces 11 graduates with one-year earnings of $61,525 - the strongest entry-level on campus. Median debt of $31,000 yields a 0.504 ratio and C+ grade. The Missouri rural healthcare network hires these BSN graduates reliably. Among the cleanest financial pathways at MoVal, though the small cohort suggests it's not the program most enrolled students complete.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 49.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 52.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-575 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 405-540 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-20 |
| Enrollment | 1,443 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,466 |
Missouri Valley admits 69.2 percent of applicants. SAT mid-range is roughly 895 to 1115 and ACT 16 to 20, well below national bachelor's medians. The school's athletic recruiting drives much of the application volume, and many admitted students arrive with limited academic preparation. The 22.4 percent completion rate reflects this preparation gap and the financial precarity of many enrolled students, especially after athletic-aid awards diminish in subsequent years.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Missouri Valley's peers are well-curated: Avila University and Mission University are direct Missouri small-private comparators; Faulkner University, Claflin University, and Lindsey Wilson College fill the Southern Christian small-private archetype. ROI scores across this peer group are weak - Avila and Lindsey Wilson typically score in the 30s to 40s, slightly better than Missouri Valley; Claflin (an HBCU) and Faulkner score similarly to MoVal. The peer set is fair but represents broadly weak-ROI institutions; this is not a competitive value group.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Valley College (this school) | 16 | $18,086 | $43,221 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
| Faulkner University | 19 | $22,085 | $43,457 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
| Claflin University | 15 | $17,800 | $40,304 |
Who Thrives Here
Missouri Valley fits Missouri-area students drawn to a small-college athletic experience with NAIA-level competition - rugby, wrestling, football, and many minor sports. Enrollment of 1,443 supports cohort identity around athletic teams. The 32 percent Pell rate signals significant low-income enrollment. Students who use athletics as a vehicle for completing a four-year degree and target the small nursing or business pipelines see reasonable outcomes; those who lose athletic eligibility or scholarships frequently leave. Anyone choosing Missouri Valley primarily for academic ROI is choosing wrong - the value proposition is mission-and-sport, not earnings.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Missouri Valley College. With a net cost of $18,086 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,221 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 25.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 22.4% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,950 against $43,221 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.