Southwestern College vs. Missouri Southern

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

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
Location Winfield, KS Joplin, MO
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,174 4,144
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #453 #911
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sckans.edu mssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
Tuition (In State) $36,500 $8,026
Tuition (Out of State) $36,500 $16,052
Room & Board $9,380 $7,624
Avg Net Price $27,003 $10,061
Avg Grant Aid $26,047 $8,016
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,240 1,937
Admitted 870 1,927
Acceptance Rate 70.2% 99.5%
Enrolled % 23.3% 31.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/22 18/24
SAT Range 900/1220 960/1220
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 Aug 22, 2025

Academics

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (4%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
Graduation Rate 57% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,100 $36,600
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $20,831
Median Loan Payment $266 $215

Diversity

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
% Men 65% 38%
% Women 35% 62%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 77%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 2% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 15% 3%

Students

 Southwestern College Missouri Southern
% In-State 36% 70%
% Out-of-State 61% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Missouri Southern State University is larger than than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,144 students vs. 1,174 students)

Southwestern College vs. Missouri Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwestern College or Missouri Southern?

  • Southwestern College is 354.8% more expensive to attend than Missouri Southern for in-state tuition ($36,500.00 vs. $8,026.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 127.4% higher at Southwestern College than Missouri Southern State University ($36,500.00 vs. $16,052.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Missouri Southern State University than Southwestern College ($10,061 vs. $27,003)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Missouri Southern State University are 23% lower than costs at Southwestern College ($7,624 vs. $9,380)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern College as Missouri Southern State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 224.9% larger than aid received Missouri Southern State University ($26,047 vs. $8,016)

Southwestern College vs. Missouri Southern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Missouri Southern State University (1030) is 31 points higher than at Southwestern College (999)
  • Incoming Southwestern College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Missouri Southern (22)
  • Accepted freshman Missouri Southern students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Southwestern College (3.33)
  • Missouri Southern has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Southwestern College (70.2%)

Southwestern College vs. Missouri Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwestern College or Missouri Southern? 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 Missouri Southern and Southwestern College.

  • The graduation rate at Southwestern College is higher than Missouri Southern State University (57% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern College earn on average $16,500 more per year than Missouri Southern graduates after ten years. ($53,100 vs. $36,600)
  • Missouri Southern State University students graduate with a $4,919 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwestern College graduates. ($20,831 vs. $25,750)
  • Missouri Southern graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Southwestern College graduates. ($215 vs. $266)
  • More Southwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Missouri Southern students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 53%)

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