Missouri Southern State University

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Nearest large-hub airport: 323 mi (DAL)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

• Most Selective Colleges in Missouri#31

Applying

Common App member

Yes

Application fee

$30

Personal essay

Optional / not required

Writing supplement

No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 32 reported programs.

Campus facts

• Founded in 1937source
• Athletic nickname: "Lions"source
• Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
• Mascot: Roary the Lionsource
• Campus size: about 373 acressource
• Formerly known as "Joplin Junior College" (1937–1977)source
• Formerly known as "Missouri Southern State College" (1977–2003)source
• Formerly known as "Missouri Southern State University–Joplin" (2003–2005)source
• Athletic conference: The MIAAsource
• Plays for the "Arch Rivalry Trophy" (since 1896)source
• Plays for the "Battle Line Trophy" (since 1906)source
• Plays for the "Indian War Drum; Lamar Hunt Trophy" (since 1891)source
• Plays for the "Telephone Trophy" (since 1896)source
• Football rivalry: Kansas State–Missouri (since 1909)source
• Plays for the "Victory Bell" (since 1892)source
• Plays for the "Tiger–Sooner Peace Pipe" (since 1902)source
• Plays for the "Mayor's Cup" (since 1979)source
• Plays for the "Miner's Helmet and Axe{{Cite web|url=https://mssulions.com/news/2019/11/13/football-heads-to-pitt-state-for-miners-bowl.aspx|title=Football Heads To Pitt State For Miners Bowl|date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=Missouri Southern State University Athletics|access-date=November 22, 2019}}" (since 1968)source
• 1 Nobel laureate affiliatedsource
• Fight song: ""Fight Tiger""source
• Notable alum: Janet L. Kavandisource

Athletics — 8 sports

NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $2,793,478 (M $1,663,319 · W $1,130,159)

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
• Volleyball

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Similar-size colleges

Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Missouri Southern State University’s 3,101 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.

Key links

• Official websitemssu.edu
• College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 178341)
• Compare colleges in MORe-score with your weights
• The Most Selective Colleges in MissouriEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
• Compare with Truman State UniversitySide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
• Showdown: Missouri Southern State University vs Truman State UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
• Sports directoryAll 8 EADA programs at this school
• Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
• MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
• How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
• Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
• What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
• A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.