Rust College vs. Missouri Southern

Comparable Facts

Compare Rust College in Holly Springs, MS with Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Missouri Southern State University is larger than Rust College based on total student enrollment (4,147 students vs. 467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rust College is located in Holly Springs, MS (Distant Town setting); Missouri Southern State University is in Joplin, MO (Small City setting).
• Rust College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Missouri Southern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rust College 10:1; Missouri Southern State University 15:1.

Rust College vs. Missouri Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rust College or Missouri Southern? 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 Southern State University than Rust College ($11,626 vs. $12,037).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 31.8% lower than at Missouri Southern State University ($6,217 vs. $9,119).
• Rust College is 48% more expensive for in-state tuition than Missouri Southern (about $4,305 more per year; $13,265.00 vs. $8,960.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.8% higher at Missouri Southern than at Rust College (about $3,815 more per year; $17,080.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rust College than at Missouri Southern State University (91% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rust College students is 44.7% larger than aid received by Missouri Southern State University students ($10,993 vs. $7,597).

Rust College vs. Missouri Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rust College or Missouri Southern? 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 Missouri Southern and Rust College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Missouri Southern State University (1290) is 400 points higher than at Rust College (890).
• Incoming Missouri Southern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 17 at Rust College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rust College 440/1339; Missouri Southern State University 1150/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rust College 17/18; Missouri Southern State University 17/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rust College - Test-free; Missouri Southern - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Missouri Southern students have a 0.84 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Rust College (2.66).
• Missouri Southern has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Rust College (48.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.4% at Rust College vs. 20.5% at Missouri Southern.

Rust College vs. Missouri Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rust College and Missouri Southern? 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).

• Missouri Southern State University's six-year graduation rate (33%) is higher than Rust College's (28%).
• Graduates from Missouri Southern State University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Rust College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $25,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Missouri Southern State University graduates have a $7,006 lower median loan debt than Rust College graduates ($20,831 vs. $27,837).
• Among borrowers, Missouri Southern graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rust College graduates ($215 vs. $287).
• More Missouri Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 21%)

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.