Marketing at Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri State's marketing program delivers solidly middle-of-the-pack results that look better when you zoom into Missouri specifically. The $43,641 starting salary lands just below the national median but beats 60% of marketing programs in the state—a meaningful distinction for Missouri families who'll pay in-state tuition here. With debt of roughly $26,000, graduates owe about half their first-year earnings, which translates to manageable monthly payments in the $300 range assuming typical loan terms.

The 24% earnings bump by year four is encouraging and tracks with typical marketing career progression as graduates move from entry-level coordinator roles into higher-paying specialist or manager positions. That $53,891 four-year salary puts graduates in decent position for their late twenties, though it's worth noting they'll still trail the elite private options like Washington University (whose marketing grads start at $70K+) throughout their careers.

For a family looking at Missouri State's accessible admission standards and reasonable cost structure, this program represents a practical path into marketing careers without the debt burden that can make life difficult early on. You're not getting the top-tier outcomes, but you're also not gambling on a program that consistently underperforms—this is steady, predictable value for students who can thrive in the state's mid-size corporate marketing departments and agencies.