Springfield, Missouri Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Springfield, Missouri shows: median public in-state tuition $12,162 (+120.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,573 (-14.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,979 (+56.2% vs U.S.) 27,085 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 14 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 27,085 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,162 (+120.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,573 (-14.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.1% (+0.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $18,141 (+82.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,979 (+56.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $17,500
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 57.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 66.7%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Springfield, Missouri—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Missouri and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Springfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, Missouri | $12,162 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 |
| 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: Springfield, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, Missouri | $46,573 | 88.1% | 66.7% | 6.4% | — | 73.6% | 0.52 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, Missouri | $12,162 | $18,141 | $20,979 | 57.9% | 27,085 | $46,573 | 88.1% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| Cape Girardeau | $10,484 | $16,521 | $11,084 | 66.5% | 6,863 | $44,030 | 92.8% |
| Rolla | $11,620 | $11,322 | $23,564 | 64.4% | 5,552 | $82,957 | 94.4% |
| Joplin | $12,480 | $16,294 | $16,772 | 52.6% | 3,750 | $41,958 | 89.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Springfield, Missouri
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 6 | $43,634 | 87.0% | 63.0% | 6.4% | — | 72.6% |
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, 100.0%, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 65.0%, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 61.8%, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 57.9%, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 43.2%, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, 92.8%, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.3%, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 88.1%, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 84.3%, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 84.3%, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 most selective colleges in Springfield, 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, 57.6%, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 71.6%, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 90.5%, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 100.0%, Cox College
Cox College
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $73,731, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $68,782, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $64,005, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $54,723, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $43,374, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $98,563, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $82,049, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $80,200, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $61,176, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $52,286, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $58,703, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,553, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,332, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,508, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $37,508, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $56,602, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $45,032, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $41,521, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,507, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,507, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $56,867, Cox College
Cox College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $49,827, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,573, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,694, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,694, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, $138,124, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $129,442, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $120,130, Evangel University-College of Online Learning
Evangel University-College of Online Learning
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $118,374, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $88,702, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $62,812, Mission University
Mission University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Springfield, 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, $10,566, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
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Rank 2, Net Price, $17,613, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, Net Price, $18,669, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $20,831, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 5, Net Price, $21,383, Mission University
Mission University
Top 10 colleges in Springfield, 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, 79.2%, Drury University
Drury University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 77.2%, Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 76.4%, Evangel University
Evangel University
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 50.0%, Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 0.0%, Cox College
Cox College
In-state tuition: Springfield, Missouri vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Springfield, Missouri median in-state tuition is $12,162, +120.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Springfield, Missouri vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Springfield, Missouri is $20,979 (+56.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $17,500.
Median earnings (10 years out): Springfield, Missouri vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Springfield, Missouri center around $46,573 (-14.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Springfield, Missouri vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.1% at the median Springfield, Missouri campus (+0.1 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
Springfield, Missouri median public in-state tuition is $12,162, about +120.7% vs the national median. Versus the Plains region, tuition is +95.4%.
Median graduate debt is $20,979 (+56.2% 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 Springfield, Missouri are $46,573, about -14.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 88.1% 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% (+0.1 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 66.7% 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 6.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 73.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Cox College (92.8%), Missouri State University-Springfield (91.3%), Evangel University (88.1%), Drury University (84.3%), Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies (84.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Springfield, Missouri, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $43,634 (6 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Springfield, Missouri is 57.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Springfield?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 14 campuses in Springfield, Missouri with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Springfield?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Springfield is $12,162 and median net price is $18,141. For Missouri overall, medians are $7,584 and $12,954; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Springfield?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Springfield is $46,573 vs $48,991 for Missouri and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Springfield colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Springfield is $20,979 vs $17,500 for Missouri and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Springfield?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Cox College (graduation) and Cox College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Springfield?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 14 campuses in Springfield, Missouri, 5 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (2), Assemblies of God Church (2), Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- Missouri college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON