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Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, Missouri · Public university · Training programs available:

EMT & paramedic trainingDental hygiene programsRadiology & sonography programs
not reportedcompletion rate · Missouri avg 69%
$19,174median debt of graduates
$37,866median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$42,620median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Missouri State Board of Nursing | National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (Accredited)
Address: 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801 · Phone: (866) 818-6778 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Missouri Southern State University is a public trade and career school in Joplin, Missouri, offering EMT & paramedic training, dental hygiene, and radiology programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and other bodies.

Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt is $19,174 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,620; this campus's completion rate compared to the state average of 69.3% is not reported.

Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Missouri Southern State University; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 34.0% of students receive Pell Grants.

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Emergency medical technicians$34,390$42,160$47,230
Dental hygienists$59,880$92,750$98,240
Radiologic technologists and technicians$50,810$73,080$80,770

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Missouri (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 47 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 27 not reported $51,482 $22,143
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 13 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 7 not reported $42,123 $13,375

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

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About this school

Missouri Southern State University is a public university located in Joplin, Missouri. It participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), meaning students may use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for their education. The campus holds accreditation from several bodies including the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Among its trade and career-focused offerings, the school awards the most credentials in EMT & paramedic training, dental hygiene programs, and radiology & sonography programs.

In terms of outcomes, the state average completion rate is reported at 69.3%, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $19,174, and median earnings ten years after entry were $42,620. About 34.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.

This campus, located in a small city setting with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,019, offers a mix of programs across health and emergency-services fields. Given the presence of clinical fields like dental hygiene and radiologic technology alongside EMT training, the campus may suit students pursuing licensed health-related trades, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcome data directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Missouri Southern State University offers EMT & paramedic training, dental hygiene programs, and radiology & sonography programs, among 4 total program families tracked.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited. It holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, the Missouri State Board of Nursing, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants can be used. About 34.0% of students receive Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The state average completion percentage is 69.3%, but this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $19,174, according to federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $42,620, per federal data.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (866) 818-6778 or visit https://www.mssu.edu/ for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Missouri Southern State University is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-based aid programs, though this is not confirmed for this specific campus's cost.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation and outcome data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?178341, or by contacting the school at (866) 818-6778.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The data does not specify program formats or scheduling for career changers; this fit cannot be confirmed from the information provided. Contact the school to discuss program options for adult learners.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can contact Missouri Southern State University at (866) 818-6778 or visit their website at https://www.mssu.edu/ for application details.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in the information provided; check the College Scorecard for comparisons.

Other trade and career schools in Joplin, MO

See all trade and career schools in Missouri or search by ZIP code.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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