Management Information Systems and Services at Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri State's MIS program produces graduates who start around $57,000 and reach $68,400 within four years—decent numbers in absolute terms, but trailing both state and national medians by several thousand dollars. Among Missouri's 13 MIS programs, this lands in the 40th percentile, meaning more than half of comparable in-state options deliver stronger starting salaries. Park University graduates, for instance, earn $14,500 more right out of the gate. The debt load of $25,930 creates a manageable 0.45 ratio to first-year earnings, though it sits slightly above typical levels for MIS programs.

The 19% earnings growth over four years suggests solid career progression, and the relatively low debt burden means graduates aren't financially hamstrung. However, for a field known for strong compensation, starting below $60,000 in a market where the state median exceeds that figure raises questions about placement quality or geographic constraints. Missouri State's 91% admission rate signals accessibility rather than selectivity, which may explain the middling outcomes.

If your child is already committed to staying in the Springfield area or needs Missouri State's affordability, the program won't derail their career—they'll graduate with reasonable debt and see their income grow. But if they can access Park University or even Columbia College without substantially higher costs, those programs deliver meaningfully better starting positions in the same state market. The gap isn't catastrophic, but it's large enough to matter when building early career momentum.