Stephens College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Stephens College is a private research university in Columbia, Missouri, enrolling about 391 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 77.22% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,071 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $28,300
- 2024 Average Net Price: $23,459 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 77.22% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 391 96.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 42.74%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
- First-Generation Students: 30.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 10.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1104
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 486
- Applicants (IPEDS): 414
- Room & Board: $13,366 annual estimate
Stephens College: what the data shows
Common questions about Stephens College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Stephens College?
Stephens College is located in Columbia, MO (ZIP 65215).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Stephens College public or private?
Stephens College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Stephens College cost?
Published tuition: $28,300.
Average net price after aid: $23,459.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,918 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,796 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $18,547 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,644 |
| $110,001+ | $29,787 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $113,200.
How hard is it to get into Stephens College?
Admission rate: 77.22%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1104 and midpoint ACT 21.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Stephens College?
Total enrollment: 391 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 486 students.
Graduate enrollment: 176 students.
About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Stephens College?
150%-time completion rate: 42.74%.
First-year retention: 78.4%.
What do graduates of Stephens College earn?
Median earnings: $36,778 six years after entry; $43,071 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
45.22% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Stephens College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Physician Associate/Assistant (29 completions)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services (17 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (17 completions)
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (14 completions)
- Playwriting and Screenwriting (13 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (11 completions)
- Musical Theatre (8 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (7 completions)
- 05.0051 (7 completions)
- Film/Cinema/Media Studies (7 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Stephens College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 77.22%; completion rate 42.74%; median earnings $43,071 at 10 years; net price $23,459. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$28,300
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Stephens College was $28,300.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$23,459
2024 Value
In 2024 Stephens College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,459.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$93,836 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$23,459 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$113,200 4-Year Tuition
$13,366 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,240 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$42,906 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$171,624 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Stephens College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
45.22% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
61.74% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Stephens College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Stephens College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $27,954 | $27,954 | $23,175 |
| 2014 | $28,510 | $28,510 | $23,211 |
| 2015 | $29,176 | $29,176 | $22,422 |
| 2016 | $29,754 | $29,754 | $18,254 |
| 2017 | $30,344 | $30,344 | $23,249 |
| 2018 | $30,950 | $30,950 | $23,231 |
| 2019 | $22,700 | $22,700 | $22,337 |
| 2020 | $23,385 | $23,385 | $22,460 |
| 2021 | $24,570 | $24,570 | $23,026 |
| 2022 | $25,586 | $25,586 | $22,101 |
| 2023 | $28,200 | $28,200 | $23,277 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
77.22% Acceptance Rate
414 Total Applicants
379 Students Admitted
74 First-Time Students Enrolled
19.53% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1104
ACT Average: 21
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Stephens College reported total enrollment of about 391 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 4% male and 96% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (49.4%), Race/ethnicity unknown (32.2%), and Black or African American (8.4%). About 45.22% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 30.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Stephens College in 2024 is 391 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 486 students. Graduate enrollment is about 176 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 49.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
17.95% 100% Completion Time
42.74% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 17.95% of students graduating from Stephens College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Physician Associate/Assistant: 34% male / 66% female
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services: 6% male / 94% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 0% male / 100% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Stephens College.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$43,071 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
62.69% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
359.00% Return on Investment
6.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Stephens College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 25 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Physician Associate/Assistant: 29 completions
2. Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services: 17 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 17 completions
4. Teacher Education, Multiple Levels: 14 completions
5. Playwriting and Screenwriting: 13 completions
6. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 11 completions
7. Musical Theatre: 8 completions
8. English Language and Literature, General: 7 completions
9. 05.0051: 7 completions
Most popular programs at Stephens College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Stephens College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Stephens College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,780
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $17,955
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Stephens College is a private non-profit institution located in Columbia, MO, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Physician Associate/Assistant, Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 391 students. Student body composition includes White (49.4%), Race/ethnicity unknown (32.2%), Black or African American (8.4%). The admission rate is 77.22%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1104. The 150%-time completion rate is 42.74%. Approximately 45.22% of students receive Pell Grants. About 30.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Location
Columbia, MO 65215
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Stephens College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Stephens College located?
Stephens College is located in Columbia, MO.
What is Stephens College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Stephens College is 77.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 414 applicants and 379 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Stephens College cost?
Reported tuition is $28,300 and average net price is $23,459 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,366 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Stephens College?
Stephens College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 486 students, White (49.4%), Race/ethnicity unknown (32.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Stephens College?
About 30.9% of students at Stephens College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Stephens College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Stephens College reports midpoint SAT about 1104 and midpoint ACT about 21.
What do graduates of Stephens College earn?
Median earnings are $36,778 six years after entry and $43,071 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Stephens College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 42.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Stephens College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Stephens College public or private?
Stephens College is a private nonprofit institution located in Columbia, MO.
Is Stephens College an HBCU?
No. Stephens College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Stephens College a tribal college?
No. Stephens College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Missouri college costs
- Missouri colleges by ROI
- Columbia, Missouri city profile
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Missouri
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.