Harris-Stowe State University vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Harris Stowe State University or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harris-Stowe State University or Messenger College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Harris Stowe State University vs. Messenger College comparison
Harris Stowe State University Messenger College College 3 College 4
Harris Stowe State University
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Overview

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Location Saint Louis, MO Joplin, TX
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 1,098 26
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hssu.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $5,808 $9,600
Tuition (Out of State) $10,440 $9,600
Room & Board $10,084 $12,635
Avg Net Price $9,302 $18,221
Avg Grant Aid $11,326 $7,978
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 14
Admitted - 7
Acceptance Rate Open 50%
Enrolled % Open 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.04 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2026

Academics

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (21%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Graduation Rate 8% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,100 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 27% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,025 N/A
Median Loan Payment $279 N/A

Diversity

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
% Men 1% 19%
% Women 0% 35%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 7% 54%
% Black 82% 18%
% Hispanic 2% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 6% 8%

Students

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
% In-State 62% 50%
% Out-of-State 33% 50%

Campus

Harris-Stowe State University Messenger College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harris Stowe State University is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,098 students vs. 26 students)

Harris-Stowe State University vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harris-Stowe State University or Messenger College?

  • Messenger College is 65.3% more expensive to attend than Harris-Stowe State University for in-state tuition ($9,600.00 vs. $5,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.7% higher at Harris-Stowe State University than Messenger College ($10,440.00 vs. $9,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harris Stowe State University than Messenger College ($9,302 vs. $18,221)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harris Stowe State University are 25.3% lower than costs at Messenger College ($10,084 vs. $12,635)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Harris Stowe State University as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harris Stowe State University students is 42% larger than aid received Messenger College ($11,326 vs. $7,978)

Which college is harder to get into, Harris-Stowe State University or Messenger College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messenger College or Harris-Stowe State University .

  • Accepted freshman Harris-Stowe State University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.04) than students at Messenger College (2.9)

Harris-Stowe State University vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harris-Stowe State University or Messenger College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Messenger College and Harris-Stowe State University.

  • The graduation rate at Messenger College is higher than Harris Stowe State University (10% vs. 8%)
  • Graduates from Harris Stowe State University earn on average $6,100 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($30,100 vs. $24,000)
  • More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harris-Stowe State University students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 27%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/