Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, Missouri · Public · 86.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Northwest Missouri State University scores 43 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, a score driven by a 54.2% completion rate, $34,000 average 6-year earnings, and a 15.9-year payback period. The in-state tuition of $10,611 is low, but net price averages $16,244 per year - meaning most students receive limited additional grant aid. Median debt of $21,500 against $34,000 earnings produces a 0.632 debt-to-earnings ratio that creates a multi-year repayment burden. The best-performing programs are Computer and Information Sciences (23 graduates, $65,444 year-one, B+ ROI grade) and Accounting (29 graduates, $72,893 year-four, B+ grade). Teacher Education is the largest program at 137 graduates and earns a D ROI grade ($37,066 year-one, debt-to-earnings 0.701), which reflects Missouri's teacher pay structure more than school-specific factors. Agricultural programs and Business perform in the B-grade range. The 54.2% completion rate is the primary structural weakness and creates a cohort of borrowers without credentials.
How Northwest Missouri State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score43/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.9 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Northwest Missouri State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,611/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,324/yr |
| Average net price | $16,244/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,976 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,885 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,378 |
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: $10,611/year ($17,324/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,244/year, or roughly $64,976 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 $13,176/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,796/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,000) and comes to 0.63, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $13,176 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,447 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,959 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,423 |
| $110,001+ | $20,796 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $13,176 per year - a net price that is accessible for a public school but still challenging against $34,000 average 6-year earnings and a 15.9-year payback. Low-income students who do not complete face debt without credentials; given the 54.2% completion rate, this is a real and frequent outcome. Students in this bracket should target CS, accounting, or agricultural programs where earnings are materially higher.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,959 - nearly the same as the lowest income bracket, suggesting the aid formula offers limited incremental help at moderate incomes. The 75001-110000 bracket jumps to $17,423. For middle-income families, the cost is modest but the earnings data does not make the case for majors outside of the school's strongest programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $20,796 per year - roughly $83,000 over four years. Even at the highest net price, the absolute cost is low by private school standards. The risk is not the cost but the combination of modest earnings and a 54.2% completion rate that suggests a substantial share of students pay this cost without finishing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northwest Missouri State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $42,508 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,907 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $46,501 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,012 | D |
| Psychology | $42,827 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $49,872 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $52,179 | C |
| Marketing | $57,705 | B |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $58,035 | B |
| Accounting | $72,893 | B+ |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (23 graduates) earns $65,444 at year one and $80,690 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.348 (ROI grade B+). At a $16,244 average net price, CS graduates build solid near-term return. The four-year trajectory to $81k is strong for a rural Missouri public university and reflects strong labor demand for tech talent across the Midwest.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business and Management (46 graduates) earns $48,302 year-one and $58,035 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.399 (ROI grade B). Northwest's agricultural emphasis aligns with Missouri's economic base, and ag business graduates access commodity trading, farm management, and agri-finance roles in the region.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is Northwest's largest program at 137 graduates and earns a D ROI grade: $37,066 year-one, $42,508 year-four, debt-to-earnings of 0.701. Missouri teacher pay is structurally low, and the near-flat four-year earnings trajectory reflects that reality. Students choosing this program for vocation should understand that the 15.9-year institutional payback period extends even further for this specific track.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (101 graduates) earns $43,672 year-one and $57,907 year-four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.435 (ROI grade B). The B grade at a public school price point makes this program reasonable for students targeting regional business careers. Median debt of $19,000 is below the school average, suggesting the business program draws students with slightly more financial aid or lower borrowing needs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Northwest Missouri State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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
| Acceptance rate | 86.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 498-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 478-593 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-24 |
| Enrollment | 4,378 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,101 |
At 86.1% admission rate, Northwest Missouri State is broadly accessible. SAT Math 498-600 and Reading 478-593, with ACT 19-24, describe the middle of the admitted range. Admission is not the barrier here; completion is. Students in the bottom half of the test-score range should specifically ask about completion rates and what academic support resources exist.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The net price is under $17k, but the outcomes data suggests completion and earnings challenges.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Missouri State University (this school) | 43 | $16,244 | $47,885 |
| University of Central Missouri | 48 | $14,462 | $49,560 |
| Nicholls State University | 44 | $12,947 | $45,454 |
| Dalton State College | 41 | $5,012 | $40,251 |
| Indiana University-South Bend | 40 | $8,653 | $44,947 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
Who Thrives Here
Northwest Missouri State admits 86.1% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 498-600 Math and 478-593 Reading, and ACT 19-24 composite. The 4,378-student public university is in rural Maryville, Missouri. Pell grant rate of 27.3% indicates a significant lower-income student population. Students with career goals in agriculture, business, or education who want a low-cost public option in the region are the primary fit. The 54.2% completion rate means students should have a strong academic plan and support system before enrolling.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Northwest Missouri State University scores 43/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $16,244 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,885 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Northwest Missouri State University: Common Questions
Is Northwest Missouri State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Northwest Missouri State University scores 43/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $16,244 a year after aid against $47,885 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Northwest Missouri State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,244 a year, or roughly $64,976 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Northwest Missouri State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,885 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,085 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Northwest Missouri State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 15.9 years for Northwest Missouri State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Northwest Missouri State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $34,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest Missouri State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.