Finance and Financial Management Services at Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western's finance program lands squarely in the middle of Missouri's pack but trails the national market significantly. At $47,265 in starting salary, graduates earn about $6,300 less than the national median for finance majors and fall slightly below Missouri's median of $49,785. Among Missouri's 21 finance programs, this sits at the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten programs in the state produce higher starting salaries.

The debt load of $21,361 is actually below both national and state averages, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. A graduate could reasonably pay off their loans in under half a year's salary, which is solid. The challenge isn't crushing debt; it's that finance salaries typically run higher than what these graduates are earning. Compare this to Washington University's $102,814 or even Missouri State's $50,486, and you see that Missouri Western graduates are competing at a disadvantage in banking, corporate finance, or wealth management roles where many finance majors aim to land.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. For a student who needs to stay local and values the manageable debt, this could work—but if career advancement and earning potential in finance are priorities, understand that this program's track record shows it preparing graduates for the lower-middle tier of finance starting positions rather than the more lucrative paths that draw many students to the major.