Head-to-head comparison
University of Missouri-St Louis vs Westminster College: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Louis, MO
University of Missouri-St Louis
- Net price / year
- $15,071
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,037
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
Option B Fulton, MO
Westminster College
- Net price / year
- $24,314
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,199
- Payback
- 25.3 yrs
University of Missouri-St Louis has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $60,284 in 12.9 years versus 25.3 years at Westminster College, on median earnings of $53,037 vs $52,199 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Missouri-St Louis | Westminster College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,071 | $24,314 |
| Total net cost | $60,284 | $97,256 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,037 | $52,199 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 12.9 yrs | 25.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $33,256 | -$20,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Missouri-St Louis or Westminster College?
University of Missouri-St Louis, at $15,071 a year after aid versus $24,314 — a gap of $9,243 a year, or $36,972 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 University of Missouri-St Louis or Westminster College graduates earn more?
University of Missouri-St Louis graduates report a median $53,037 ten years after entry, $838 more than the $52,199 at Westminster College. 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, University of Missouri-St Louis or Westminster College?
University of Missouri-St Louis: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Westminster College, a difference of $7,000. 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?
57% of students finish at University of Missouri-St Louis, 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.