Bolivar, Missouri Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Bolivar, Missouri: median public in-state tuition $29,478 (+434.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $43,112 (-20.7% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,978 (+35.5% vs U.S.) 1,485 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,485 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $29,478 (+434.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,112 (-20.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.3% (+2.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,677 (+117.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,978 (+35.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $16,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 73.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 64.8%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Bolivar serve students across Missouri with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,485 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $29,478. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Bolivar, Missouri and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Bolivar vs Missouri & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar, Missouri | $29,478 | $21,677 | $17,978 | 73.5% | 1,485 |
| Missouri (state median) | $7,584 | $12,954 | $16,750 | 53.0% | 208,336 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Bolivar, Missouri vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar, Missouri | $43,112 | 90.3% | 64.8% | 6.4% | — | 73.8% | 0.49 |
| Missouri (state median) | $48,991 | 91.3% | 71.0% | 5.8% | — | 71.5% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Missouri (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar, Missouri | $29,478 | $21,677 | $17,978 | 73.5% | 1,485 | $43,112 | 90.3% |
| Columbia | $25,826 | $21,492 | $22,190 | 42.7% | 29,377 | $45,378 | 87.6% |
| Columbia | $25,826 | $21,492 | $22,190 | 42.7% | 29,377 | $45,378 | 87.6% |
| Columbia | $25,826 | $21,492 | $22,190 | 42.7% | 29,377 | $45,378 | 87.6% |
| Springfield | $14,822 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $43,634 | 87.0% |
| Springfield | $14,822 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $43,634 | 87.0% |
| Springfield | $14,822 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $43,634 | 87.0% |
| Springfield | $14,822 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $43,634 | 87.0% |
| Saint Louis | $27,166 | $22,066 | $22,000 | 56.6% | 25,594 | $57,571 | 93.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.3%, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.3%, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Most selective college in Bolivar, Missouri (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 68.4%, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $69,273, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $78,525, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,855, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,382, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,112, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $99,330, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Most affordable college in Bolivar, Missouri (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $21,677, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
Top college in Bolivar, Missouri by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 64.8%, Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University
In-state tuition: Bolivar, Missouri vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Bolivar, Missouri median in-state tuition is $29,478, +434.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Bolivar, Missouri vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Bolivar, Missouri is $17,978 (+35.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $16,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Bolivar, Missouri vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Bolivar, Missouri center around $43,112 (-20.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Bolivar, Missouri vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.3% at the median Bolivar, Missouri campus (+2.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Bolivar, Missouri median public in-state tuition is $29,478, about +434.8% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +373.5%.
Median graduate debt is $17,978 (+35.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Bolivar, Missouri are $43,112, about -20.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 64.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 73.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Southwest Baptist University (90.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Bolivar, Missouri is 73.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Bolivar?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Bolivar, Missouri with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Bolivar?
Median in-state tuition in Bolivar is $29,478 and median net price is $21,677. For Missouri overall, medians are $7,584 and $12,954; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Bolivar?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Bolivar is $43,112 vs $48,991 for Missouri and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Bolivar colleges?
Median completer debt in Bolivar is $17,978 vs $16,750 for Missouri and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Bolivar?
Top campuses on this page include Southwest Baptist University (graduation) and Southwest Baptist University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Bolivar?
Among 2 campuses in Bolivar, Missouri, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Southern Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- Missouri college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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