Statistics at University of Missouri-Columbia

With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers deserve skepticism, but they tell an unusual story: Mizzou statistics majors carry remarkably low debt ($15,451, better than 88% of programs nationally) while earning exactly the Missouri median for their field. The first-year salary of $52,088 trails the national benchmark by about $7,600, placing this program in just the 23rd percentile nationally—but that gap matters less than it might seem when you're graduating with thousands less in loans than peers elsewhere.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 is excellent, meaning graduates owe less than four months of their first-year salary. Among Missouri's five statistics programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile for earnings, suggesting it's competitive in-state even if it doesn't match stronger programs in states with more robust tech sectors. For a flagship state university with a 77% admission rate, these outcomes represent solid accessibility without the crushing debt that often accompanies broader-access institutions.

The small sample size is the real wildcard here—a few outliers could dramatically shift these figures in either direction. If your student is set on statistics and planning to stay in Missouri or the Midwest, the low debt load provides valuable flexibility for grad school or entry-level positions that build skills. Just recognize they may need to be strategic about landing that first job compared to graduates from top-quartile programs.