University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, Missouri · Public · 78.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Missouri-Columbia scores 77 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution is the flagship public research university of Missouri with 23,929 enrolled students, in-state tuition of $14,837, and a net price of $20,268. All five sub-scores are in the 70-85 range - a balanced, consistently strong profile. Completion rate of 74.9% and a 7.8-year payback period anchor the value case. Average 6-year earnings of $42,700 are modest at the institutional level but are significantly diluted by large cohorts in lower-earning fields: 528 Health Sciences students at C grade, 461 Journalism students at C+ grade, and 358 Psychology students at C grade pull the institutional median down from the strong STEM and business outcomes. The engineering and CS programs are standouts: Computer Engineering (13 grads, $83,243 year-one, A grade), Computer and Information Sciences (213 grads, $72,886 year-one, B+ grade), Electrical Engineering (41 grads, $85,400 year-one, B+ grade), and Mechanical Engineering (125 grads, $71,800 year-one, B+ grade).
University of Missouri-Columbia scores in the top 16% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,837/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,056/yr |
| Average net price | $20,268/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,072 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,403 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 23,929 |
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: $14,837/year ($36,056/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 $20,268/year, or roughly $81,072 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 $13,841/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,304/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,700) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $13,841 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,378 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,722 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,762 |
| $110,001+ | $26,304 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $13,841 net price per year at Mizzou - approximately $55,364 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $13,378 - slightly lower, reflecting aid optimization at this income level. At $13,841 per year, Missouri's flagship delivers strong public university value for low-income Missouri students, especially in engineering, CS, and nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,722 per year - essentially flat from the lower brackets, suggesting a consistent aid floor for students below the median income threshold. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $19,762.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $26,304 per year - approximately $105,216 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Missouri-Columbia with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $84,534 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $69,333 | C |
| Journalism | $69,016 | C+ |
| Psychology | $55,839 | C |
| Biology | $60,424 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $83,231 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $44,681 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $100,234 | B+ |
| Accounting | $95,415 | B+ |
| International Relations | $64,747 | 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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is Mizzou's largest high-ROI program: 213 graduates, $72,886 year-one, $100,234 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.288 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $21,000 against year-one of $72k produces outstanding initial payback. The four-year trajectory to $100,234 confirms strong career progression.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing has 247 graduates with $72,300 year-one, $83,231 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.322 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $23,250 is low relative to earnings. Mizzou nursing graduates access Missouri's healthcare systems statewide, with the University of Missouri Health System as a major employer. Mizzou's scale and clinical placement network are meaningful advantages.
Journalism
Journalism has 461 graduates - the second-largest graded program - with $43,958 year-one, $69,016 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.487 (ROI grade C+). The C+ grade is a function of journalism market salaries, not Mizzou's standing. Graduates access national media, digital media, and corporate communications markets. Students who understand the journalism labor market and can contextualize the C+ grade against career trajectory may still find Mizzou Journalism highly valuable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Missouri-Columbia’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 | 78.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-30 |
| Enrollment | 23,929 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,563 |
At 78.5%, Mizzou is accessible for well-prepared Missouri students. SAT 25th percentile of 570 Math / 580 Reading and ACT 23rd-percentile of 23 indicate moderate preparation expectations. The flagship status means admission thresholds vary by college - Engineering and Honors College have higher requirements than general admission. Out-of-state tuition of $36,056 changes the value equation significantly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Mizzou's ROI is 77.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Missouri-Columbia (this school) | 77 | $20,268 | $63,403 |
| University of Iowa | 76 | $22,531 | $64,762 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 76 | $13,951 | $63,199 |
| Oregon State University | 75 | $19,604 | $64,010 |
| University of Central Missouri | 48 | $14,462 | $49,560 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Missouri-Columbia side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
University of Missouri-Columbia admits 78.5% of applicants and enrolls 23,929 students in Columbia, Missouri. SAT Math ranges 570-660, SAT Reading 580-670, ACT Composite 23-30. The Pell grant rate of 20.1% indicates primarily middle-to-upper-income enrollment. Mizzou offers a full range of programs from agricultural sciences to engineering to journalism; students should evaluate program-specific outcomes rather than the institutional average. The Columbia campus offers a large-university experience with Big 12 athletics, a research medical center, and a nationally recognized journalism school.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Missouri-Columbia pays off. You'd pay about $20,268 a year after aid ($81,072 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,403 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 74.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, 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 Missouri-Columbia: Common Questions
Is University of Missouri-Columbia worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Missouri-Columbia pays off. It scores 77/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $20,268 a year after aid ($81,072 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,403 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.8 years to earn back.
How much does University of Missouri-Columbia 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 $20,268 a year, or roughly $81,072 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 Missouri-Columbia graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,403 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,603 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 Missouri-Columbia?
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 7.8 years for University of Missouri-Columbia. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. 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 Missouri-Columbia?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.