Jefferson City, Missouri Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Jefferson City, Missouri shows: median public in-state tuition $9,026 (+63.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $39,463 (-27.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $23,879 (+77.8% vs U.S.) 1,489 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,489 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $9,026 (+63.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $39,463 (-27.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.1% (+2.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,037 (+70.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $23,879 (+77.8% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 20.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 59.9%
Download the data
Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Jefferson City, Missouri—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Missouri and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Jefferson City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, Missouri | $9,026 | $17,037 | $23,879 | 20.8% | 1,489 |
| Missouri (state median) | $7,584 | $12,954 | $17,500 | 52.4% | 208,656 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Jefferson City, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, Missouri | $39,463 | 90.1% | 59.9% | 17.5% | — | 59.0% | 0.73 |
| Missouri (state median) | $48,991 | 91.3% | 70.8% | 5.9% | — | 71.5% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, Missouri | $9,026 | $17,037 | $23,879 | 20.8% | 1,489 | $39,463 | 90.1% |
| 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 | $12,162 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $46,573 | 88.1% |
| Springfield | $12,162 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $46,573 | 88.1% |
| Springfield | $12,162 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $46,573 | 88.1% |
| Saint Louis | $22,587 | $22,066 | $22,500 | 54.9% | 25,801 | $53,037 | 93.7% |
| Kansas City | $14,094 | $23,006 | $13,516 | 52.6% | 23,895 | $52,773 | 91.0% |
| St. Louis | $19,975 | $21,786 | $9,833 | 97.1% | 8,690 | $89,294 | 85.5% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 20.8%, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.1%, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $66,592, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $79,520, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $32,185, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $36,168, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $39,463, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $117,388, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, Net Price, $19,092, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
Top 10 colleges in Jefferson City, 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.
-
Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 59.9%, Lincoln University
Lincoln University
In-state tuition: Jefferson City, Missouri vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Jefferson City, Missouri median in-state tuition is $9,026, +63.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Jefferson City, Missouri vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Jefferson City, Missouri is $23,879 (+77.8% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Jefferson City, Missouri vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Jefferson City, Missouri center around $39,463 (-27.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Jefferson City, Missouri vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.1% at the median Jefferson City, Missouri campus (+2.1 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
Jefferson City, Missouri median public in-state tuition is $9,026, about +63.8% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +45.0%.
Median graduate debt is $23,879 (+77.8% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Jefferson City, Missouri are $39,463, about -27.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 90.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+2.1 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 59.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 17.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 59.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Lincoln University (90.1%)—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 Jefferson City, Missouri is 20.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Jefferson City?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Jefferson City, Missouri with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Jefferson City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Jefferson City is $9,026 and median net price is $17,037. For Missouri overall, medians are $7,584 and $12,954; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Jefferson City?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Jefferson City is $39,463 vs $48,991 for Missouri and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Jefferson City colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Jefferson City is $23,879 vs $17,500 for Missouri and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Jefferson City?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Lincoln University (graduation) and Lincoln University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Jefferson City?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 campuses in Jefferson City, Missouri, 1 historically Black college or university (HBCU, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Lincoln University.
Sources & related
- Missouri college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON