Education at Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern's education program graduates owe substantially less than typical education majors—about $7,000 below the Missouri median and nearly $7,000 below the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, graduates can expect to owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary, which is manageable by education standards. The $34,166 starting salary sits just above the Missouri median and outpaces several in-state competitors, including larger institutions like University of Missouri-St. Louis and Harris-Stowe State.

That said, this initial salary trails the national average by about $4,500, placing graduates in the 27th percentile nationally. For education majors planning to teach in Missouri—where K-12 salaries tend to run lower than coastal states—this matters less than for those eyeing positions elsewhere. The real advantage here is graduating with minimal debt while entering a field where earnings grow predictably with experience and advanced degrees rather than in year one.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes can vary significantly. Still, for Missouri families prioritizing low debt over maximum starting salary, this program delivers exactly that—affordable preparation for teaching careers without the financial burden that often accompanies education degrees.