Missouri Southern vs. Memphis

Should I go to Missouri Southern State University or University of Memphis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Missouri Southern or Memphis 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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Missouri Southern State University vs. University of Memphis comparison
Missouri Southern State University University of Memphis College 3 College 4
University of Memphis
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Overview

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Location Joplin, MO Memphis, TN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 4,144 21,917
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #911 #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mssu.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Tuition (In State) $8,026 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $16,052 $12,576
Room & Board $7,624 $10,126
Avg Net Price $10,061 $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $8,016 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,937 15,767
Admitted 1,927 14,916
Acceptance Rate 99.5% 94.6%
Enrolled % 31.4% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 17/24
SAT Range 960/1220 930/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Graduation Rate 33% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,600 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,831 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $215 $261

Diversity

 Missouri Southern Memphis
% Men 38% 40%
% Women 62% 60%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 50%
% Black 6% 37%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Missouri Southern Memphis
% In-State 70% 81%
% Out-of-State 28% 17%

Campus

 Missouri Southern Memphis
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Memphis is larger than than Missouri Southern based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 4,144 students)

Missouri Southern vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Missouri Southern or Memphis?

  • University of Memphis is 4.1% more expensive to attend than Missouri Southern for in-state tuition ($8,352.00 vs. $8,026.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.6% higher at Missouri Southern than University of Memphis ($16,052.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Missouri Southern State University than Memphis ($10,061 vs. $13,873)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Missouri Southern State University are 32.8% lower than costs at University of Memphis ($7,624 vs. $10,126)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Missouri Southern State University than University of Memphis (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Memphis students is 20.1% larger than aid received Missouri Southern State University ($9,625 vs. $8,016)

Missouri Southern vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Missouri Southern or Memphis? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Memphis or Missouri Southern .

  • The average SAT score at Missouri Southern State University (1030) is 1 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming Missouri Southern students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman Missouri Southern students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Memphis (3.48)
  • Missouri Southern has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Memphis (94.6%)

Missouri Southern vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Missouri Southern or Memphis? 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 Memphis and Missouri Southern.

  • The graduation rate at Memphis is higher than Missouri Southern State University (38% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Memphis earn on average $5,600 more per year than Missouri Southern graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $36,600)
  • Missouri Southern State University students graduate with a $4,419 lower median federal student loan debt than Memphis graduates. ($20,831 vs. $25,250)
  • Missouri Southern graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Memphis graduates. ($215 vs. $261)
  • More Missouri Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 37%)

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