University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri · Public · 63.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Central Missouri scores ROI 48 (Below Average Value) - a public regional university in Warrensburg with 5,648 undergraduates and a mixed earnings story. Two programs carry the school's ROI case: Computer Science (72 graduates, $67,040 year-one, $90,822 four-year, B+ grade) and Registered Nursing (109 graduates, $70,840 year-one, $80,542 four-year, B grade). Both deliver strong debt-to-earnings ratios in the 0.32-0.36 range. The school's largest program by graduates is Teacher Education (133 graduates), which earns a D grade with a 0.704 debt-to-earnings ratio reflecting the structural reality of teacher salaries against student debt. The 54% completion rate is a serious weak point and the largest drag on overall ROI. At a $14,462 average net price, UCM is affordable for in-state Missouri students; the underwhelming 13.6-year payback period reflects the earnings ceiling of the dominant teacher education and criminal justice programs rather than any cost issue.
University of Central Missouri
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,050/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,600/yr |
| Average net price | $14,462/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,848 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,560 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,648 |
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: $10,050/year ($18,600/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 $14,462/year, or roughly $57,848 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 $10,965/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,485/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,000, which works out to about $223 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,100) and comes to 0.60, 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 | $10,965 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,254 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,408 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,931 |
| $110,001+ | $18,485 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,965 per year - affordable for a Missouri resident with Pell eligibility. Over four years (assuming completion), that is roughly $44,000 in total cost. The aid stack of Pell, Missouri Access state grant, and federal subsidized loans typically covers most of this for in-state low-income students. The financial issue at UCM is not cost - it is the 54% completion rate. Students who leave without a degree at $11,000/year still leave with debt and no credential. For low-income students who can credibly complete, UCM's CS or nursing tracks are strong per-dollar value plays.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $13,408 (48-75k bracket) to $16,931 (75-110k bracket) per year. The slope is gentle, meaning UCM scales costs sensibly with family income. Over four years, total cost ranges from $54,000 to $68,000, well within the threshold where loan exposure is manageable against typical earnings outcomes - provided the student lands in a higher-earning major (CS, nursing) rather than the school's lower-earning programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $18,485 per year, or roughly $74,000 over four years. For high-income families weighing UCM against a private regional, the price difference of $25,000-40,000/year over four years funds either a graduate degree, a meaningful starter savings cushion, or a significantly reduced loan burden post-graduation.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Central Missouri with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $38,807 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $80,542 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,875 | C |
| Computer Science | $90,822 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,328 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $51,897 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $47,390 | C |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $84,738 | B |
| Marketing | $50,774 | C+ |
| Air Transportation | $38,283 | 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.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is UCM's biggest program (133 graduates) and its weakest earnings story. Year-one earnings of $34,392 against $24,199 in debt produce a 0.704 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). The four-year figure ($38,807) shows minimal earnings growth. This pattern reflects the public school teacher salary structure in Missouri, where starting teacher salaries cluster in the $35,000-$40,000 range and step increases are slow. Students entering this program understand the financial trajectory; the program serves a regional teacher pipeline for Missouri school districts. The career fit and mission alignment are real, but loan-financing the degree without a clear plan for state loan forgiveness programs (PSLF) leaves graduates carrying debt into a profession where compensation does not catch up.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is UCM's strongest earnings track: 109 graduates, $70,840 year-one, $80,542 year-four, with a 0.361 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). For students choosing UCM specifically for the nursing pipeline, the value calculation is clear.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates (89 total) earn $37,221 year-one and $52,875 year-four, with a 0.625 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). Year-four earnings show meaningful growth as graduates move from entry-level corrections officer or patrol roles into investigation, supervisory, or federal positions. Students who can credibly target federal hiring (FBI, DEA, US Marshals) can substantially exceed these medians; students who plateau in county corrections will track closer to year-one earnings throughout their career.
Computer Science
Computer Science (72 graduates) is UCM's clearest high-ROI value play: $67,040 year-one earnings, $90,822 year-four, 0.321 debt-to-earnings ratio (B+ grade), $21,500 median debt. Kansas City has a real tech employer base - Garmin, Cerner (now Oracle), H&R Block's tech division, and a growing fintech presence - that hires from UCM. The earnings outcomes are competitive with much more selective private CS programs once you account for cost basis. For students confident in their CS path, UCM at $14,462/year delivers an outcome that programs costing 4x more can match but rarely beat on a debt-adjusted basis.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology shows 71 graduates with $34,844 year-one, $52,328 year-four, $26,000 debt, and a 0.746 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). Students entering kinesiology with a clear PT/OT/PA grad school plan can credibly recoup the investment; students treating it as a terminal degree face the year-one earnings reality.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Central Missouri’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 | 63.8% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-24 |
| Enrollment | 5,648 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,188 |
UCM admits 63.8% of applicants with ACT 17-24. SAT bands are not reported. Students aspiring to the CS or nursing programs typically enter with stronger ACT scores, but the school does not report internal admissions criteria by major to the Scorecard.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UCM's completion rate is 54%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Missouri (this school) | 48 | $14,462 | $49,560 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Washburn University | 51 | $15,280 | $49,774 |
| Lincoln University | 10 | $19,092 | $39,463 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Central Missouri side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UCM admits 63.8% of applicants with ACT 17-24 (SAT data not reported). Students who thrive here arrive with one of two paths: a clear declared CS or nursing major where the earnings data is strong, or a teacher education or criminal justice path where the student understands the modest earnings ceiling and is choosing the career for non-financial reasons. Students entering broad liberal arts or kinesiology programs at any regional public university should plan for graduate school or career pivots - the earnings data does not support those pathways alone.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Central Missouri is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,462 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $49,560 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.7% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Central Missouri: Common Questions
Is University of Central Missouri worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Central Missouri scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,462 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $49,560 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Central Missouri 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 $14,462 a year, or roughly $57,848 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 University of Central Missouri graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $49,560 ten years after enrolling, roughly $7,760 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 University of Central Missouri?
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 13.6 years for University of Central Missouri. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Central Missouri graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,000, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Central Missouri?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.1%. 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.
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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.