Missouri Southern State University

What Missouri Southern State University does

Missouri Southern State University is a public, state-funded university headquartered at a 320-acre campus in Joplin, Missouri, operating continuously since its 1937 founding (initially as Joplin Junior College) and serving approximately 4,300 students across more than 140 undergraduate and graduate academic programs organized into three colleges. The institution's product portfolio spans undergraduate degrees, master's programs and graduate certificates (MBA, MSN, Master of Science, justice studies, data analytics), fully online degrees (RN to BSN, MBA specializations, Master of Healthcare Administration), dual-credit high school partnerships, and the MOSO CAPS work-based learning program. Revenue is generated through a subscription/recurring tuition model with in-state tuition at $8,778/year ($7,200 for graduate) and non-resident tuition at $17,556/year ($12,632 for graduate), augmented by the Law Enforcement Academy (600-hour POST-certified program at $8,700-$16,405 per cadet), continuing-education offerings (Six Sigma Green Belt at $2,200), a substantial scholarship ecosystem (up to $5,000/year foundation scholarships, Evans Honors Scholarship at $6,500/year), and gifts/private donations through the foundation. Core technology and facilities include a CSI Crime Lab simulation, indoor firearms range, defensive tactics gym, driving course, and the $3 million Public Safety and Forensics Institute (opened February 2026) with crime scene scanning, drone operations, fingerprint analysis, and ballistics comparison capabilities. Go-to-market is multi-channel sales-led: campus tours, Discovery Days, Lion Pride Visit Days, Transfer Days, Southern Kickoff, 360-degree virtual tours, social media, paid digital advertising, and Salesforce-based email nurture, targeting first-time freshmen (primary), transfer, international (~150 annually from ~40 countries), graduate, dual credit, veteran, and continuing education segments. MSSU holds three statutory and regulatory anchors: a 1995 Missouri legislative designation making international education a core statewide mission, Higher Learning Commission and NACEP accreditation, and Missouri POST certification for law-enforcement training. The university's competitive position rests on a cost-advantage Lion Pride Tuition Discount extending in-state rates to residents of 15+ states, 100% NCLEX and allied-health professional licensure pass rates, and 17% senior study abroad participation versus an 11% national average.

Name

Missouri Southern State University

Legal name

Missouri Southern State University

Website

https://mssu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Missouri Southern State University is a public state university in Joplin, Missouri serving ~4,300 students across 140+ undergraduate and graduate programs, with statutorily designated statewide missions in global education and health/life sciences, plus a hands-on Law Enforcement Academy and Public Safety and Forensics Institute.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Law enforcement training
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Joplin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Base tuition revenue from undergraduate students pursuing bachelor's and associate degrees across 140+ academic programs. In-state tuition is significantly lower than out-of-state, with Lion Pride Discount extending in-state rates to students from neighboring states.
2. Graduate Tuition: Revenue from master's degree programs including MBA, MSN, Master of Science programs, and graduate certificates.
3. Private Donations and Foundation Scholarships: Global Leaders Program funded by $1 million gift from Joel Newby's estate. Foundation scholarships up to $5,000 per year. Lions Forward Campaign fundraising initiative.
4. Continuing Education Programs: Professional development offerings including Six Sigma Green Belt certification training at $2,200 per course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Missouri Southern State University is a public state university providing higher education through on-campus and online instruction, awarding bachelor's and associate degrees across 100+ undergraduate programs and master's degrees across multiple graduate disciplines. The university also provides a 600-hour certified Law Enforcement Academy, dual credit for high school students, continuing education and professional certifications (such as Six Sigma), and leadership development through the Global Leaders Program, supported by specialized facilities including a CSI Crime Lab, Public Safety and Forensics Institute, and Law Enforcement training center.

Product overview

Missouri Southern State University is a comprehensive public university offering educational products and services across three academic colleges. The core product portfolio includes undergraduate degree programs (100+ majors), graduate degrees (Master's programs in business, education, healthcare administration, data analytics, justice studies, nursing, and sport management), and online degree programs for working professionals. Supporting products include Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment for high school students, the Law Enforcement Academy (600-hour POST-certified training), Continuing Education with professional certifications like Six Sigma, and specialized programs like MOSO CAPS for high school students and the Honors Program. The Global Education Office provides international study experiences, while the Global Leaders Program offers leadership development with $4,000 funding per participant. The university also hosts the Wilcoxon Innovation in Health Sciences Summit and operates the Public Safety and Forensics Institute featuring advanced forensic laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs More than 100 undergraduate bachelor's and associate degree programs across health sciences, business, education, technology, criminal justice, and liberal arts disciplines for first-time freshmen, transfer students, and adult learners.
• Graduate Programs Master's degrees and graduate certificates in education, business, healthcare administration, data analytics, justice studies, nursing, and sport/recreation management for career-advancing professionals.
• Online Degree Programs Fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs including RN to BSN, MBA with specializations, Master of Healthcare Administration, and graduate certificates, designed for working professionals and out-of-state students. MSSU is a SARA participant.
• Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Programs enabling qualified high school students to earn college credit while still in high school, delivered through partnerships with high schools taught by qualified high school instructors or MSSU faculty. NACEP-accredited.
• Law Enforcement Academy A 600-hour certified basic law enforcement training program at the Mills-Anderson Justice Center, preparing students for careers as peace officers in Missouri with Missouri POST certification. Includes access to indoor firearms range, defensive tactics gym, driving course, fully equipped police vehicles, crime-scene labs, and forensic training spaces.
• Continuing Education Lifelong learning programs including Six Sigma Green Belt certification training ($2,200 per course) and other professional development courses for working professionals of all ages.
• MOSO CAPS (Missouri Southern Center for Advanced Professional Studies) Collaborative program with area businesses providing profession-based experiential learning opportunities and career-oriented experiences for high school students.
• Honors Program Academic path for high-achieving students providing distinguished learning environment, enhanced resources, special recognition, and the Evans Scholarship worth $6,500 per academic year (renewable up to 8 semesters for total value of $26,000).
• Global Education Office International education programs including semester-long exchanges, faculty-led short-term trips abroad, and themed semesters bringing global cultures to campus. Required international experience component for Honors students.
• Global Leaders Program Leadership development program welcoming 50 high-performing students annually, providing $4,000 in funding for international travel, leadership development, undergraduate research, and conference participation. Funded by a $1 million gift from Joel Newby's estate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% NCLEX pass rate for BSN nursing students for past two years
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Valkyrie UAS SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026MSSU hosted demonstration of long-range drones developed by Valkyrie UAS Solutions for transporting medicines, supplies, and blood to rural communities across the Four States region. Drones can cover 100 miles at 80 mph, carry up to 15 pounds, and transfer two units of blood. Operations scheduled to begin April 1 in Rolla with potential funding from Big Beautiful Bill's $50 billion rural healthcare initiative.
• DisneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney Internship Program offering students professional internship opportunities at Disney properties
• Silver Dollar CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Dollar City Internship Program offering students professional internship opportunities at the amusement park
• Missouri Department of Public SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissouri POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification for Law Enforcement Academy. State agency certifying basic law enforcement training programs.
• Missouri Statewide Network of Partner UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad exchange partnerships with universities around the globe supporting international education mission since 1995

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Missouri State University: Public state university system headquartered in Springfield, Missouri — the largest nearby competitor for in-state students, with overlapping undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across business, health sciences, and education at comparable tuition positioning.
• Pittsburg State University: Public regional university in Pittsburg, Kansas, directly across the four-state region from MSSU. Closely comparable in size, mission (career/technical emphasis), program mix, NCAA Division II athletics, and tuition positioning.
• Southeast Missouri State University: Regional public university in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with comparable enrollment scale (~10,000-11,000), similar career-oriented program mix, NCAA Division I athletics, and competing tuition to Missouri residents.
• Northwest Missouri State University: Regional public university in Maryville, Missouri with similar enrollment, NCAA Division II athletics profile, and comparable tuition strategy targeting regional in-state students across overlapping programs.
• University of Central Missouri: Mid-sized public state university in Warrensburg, Missouri serving a similar regional student base with overlapping undergraduate, graduate, and online programs at comparable tuition pricing.
• Crowder College: Public community college located in Neosho, Missouri (within the MSSU service area), competing for the same pool of regional high-school graduates for two-year and transfer-degree pathways.
• Drury University: Private university in Springfield, Missouri competing head-to-head for the same regional prospective-student pool, including a renowned service-learning tradition and graduate programs that overlap MSSU's offerings.

Regional players

• University of Arkansas - Fort Smith: Public regional university across the state line in Fort Smith, Arkansas, competing for four-states-region students who qualify for the Lion Pride Discount — overlapping programs in health sciences, business, and applied technology.
• Rogers State University: Regional public university in Claremore, Oklahoma serving the eastern Oklahoma portion of the four-states region, with overlapping undergraduate programs and NCAA Division II athletics competing for the same regional students.

Broad incumbents

• University of Missouri: The flagship public research university in Missouri — a much larger, brand-dominant competitor whose broader portfolio and stronger research reputation set the competitive ceiling for MSSU's graduate and online ambitions.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=nPLS9SGSjfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/121061985105
• Instagraminstagram.com/mosolions
• Xx.com/mosolions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/missouri-southern-state-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Missouri Southern State University