Mathematics at Missouri State University-Springfield

Missouri State's mathematics program lands squarely in the middle of the pack, with first-year earnings of $48,188 trailing both the state median ($52,160) and flagships like Mizzou by nearly $8,000. Among Missouri's 34 math programs, this ranks only in the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten comparable in-state options deliver better starting salaries. The debt load of $19,922 is manageable (just 41% of first-year earnings), but you're not getting a financial advantage here despite the university's 91% acceptance rate making it highly accessible.

The 18% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, bringing graduates to $56,610 by year four. However, the sample size here is quite small—fewer than 30 graduates—which means a handful of outliers could skew these numbers significantly. In any given year, actual outcomes for your student might vary considerably from these medians.

For a math degree in Missouri, this represents a safe but unremarkable choice. If your child can gain admission to Mizzou (which admits selectively but not prohibitively), the $7,500 first-year earnings difference would recoup any additional costs fairly quickly. Missouri State makes sense primarily if it offers substantial scholarship money or if location in Springfield specifically serves your family's needs.