Head-to-head comparison
Missouri State University-Springfield vs Lindenwood University: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, MO
Missouri State University-Springfield
- Net price / year
- $17,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,827
- Payback
- 48 yrs
Option B Saint Charles, MO
Lindenwood University
- Net price / year
- $19,638
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,278
- Payback
- 16 yrs
Lindenwood University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,552 in 16 years versus 48 years at Missouri State University-Springfield, on median earnings of $53,278 vs $49,827 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Missouri State University-Springfield | Lindenwood University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,613 | $19,638 |
| Total net cost | $70,452 | $78,552 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,827 | $53,278 |
| Median debt | $21,992 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 48 yrs | 16 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$41,112 | $19,808 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Missouri State University-Springfield or Lindenwood University?
Missouri State University-Springfield, at $17,613 a year after aid versus $19,638 — a gap of $2,025 a year, or $8,100 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Missouri State University-Springfield or Lindenwood University graduates earn more?
Lindenwood University graduates report a median $53,278 ten years after entry, $3,451 more than the $49,827 at Missouri State University-Springfield. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Missouri State University-Springfield or Lindenwood University?
Missouri State University-Springfield: its completers carry a median $21,992 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lindenwood University, a difference of $4,008. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Missouri State University-Springfield, against 49% at Lindenwood University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.