MWSU vs. WSC

Comparable Facts

Compare Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO with Wayne State College in Wayne, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State College is larger than MWSU based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 3,716 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Missouri Western State University is located in Saint Joseph, MO (Small City setting); Wayne State College is in Wayne, NE (Rural Fringe setting).
• Missouri Western State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Missouri Western State University 15:1; Wayne State College 19:1.

MWSU vs. WSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MWSU or WSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Missouri Western State University than WSC ($13,126 vs. $16,060).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State College are 17.6% lower than at Missouri Western State University ($10,142 vs. $12,311).
• Missouri Western State University is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSC (about $2,090 more per year; $10,306.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 154% higher at MWSU than at Wayne State College (about $12,650 more per year; $20,866.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Missouri Western State University than at Wayne State College (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Missouri Western State University students is 41.9% larger than aid received by Wayne State College students ($9,245 vs. $6,517).

MWSU vs. WSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MWSU or WSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WSC and MWSU.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MWSU - Open admission; WSC - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman WSC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at MWSU (3.25).

MWSU vs. WSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MWSU and WSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Wayne State College's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Missouri Western State University's (27%).
• Graduates from Wayne State College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than MWSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State College graduates have a $1,768 lower median loan debt than MWSU graduates ($20,050 vs. $21,818).
• Among borrowers, WSC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MWSU graduates ($207 vs. $225).
• More WSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MWSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.