Head-to-head comparison
Missouri State University-Springfield vs Westminster College: 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 Fulton, MO
Westminster College
- Net price / year
- $24,314
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,199
- Payback
- 25.3 yrs
Westminster College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,256 in 25.3 years versus 48 years at Missouri State University-Springfield, on median earnings of $52,199 vs $49,827 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Missouri State University-Springfield | Westminster College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,613 | $24,314 |
| Total net cost | $70,452 | $97,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,827 | $52,199 |
| Median debt | $21,992 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 48 yrs | 25.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$41,112 | -$20,476 |
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 Westminster College?
Missouri State University-Springfield, at $17,613 a year after aid versus $24,314 — a gap of $6,701 a year, or $26,804 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 Westminster College graduates earn more?
Westminster College graduates report a median $52,199 ten years after entry, $2,372 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 Westminster College?
Missouri State University-Springfield: its completers carry a median $21,992 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Westminster College, a difference of $5,008. 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 55% at Westminster College. 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.