Enrollment: 16157
Average ACT: 24
Most Popular Majors: Elementary Education and Teaching,Management Information Systems, General,Marketing/Marketing Management, General,
Regular Application Deadline: 07/20
Student Faculty Ratio: 18:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 339
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $4,907.00

Students Say - Academics
"Recently renamed to reflect its transition from a regional to statewide education destination, Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State) is "a growing campus that is completely able to provide a more than adequate academic experience with excellent professors, superb courses, and a great learning environment." The school professes a "public affairs mission," meaning that not only are students at MSU "required to become knowledgeable about the world around them and the issues affecting it," but "they are also encouraged to take action to resolve such issues." For approximately one-third of all students here the big draw is the College of Business, which is "fantastic in helping business students excel" by "providing real world-scenarios for its students that transcend the sheltered possibilities that textbooks offer" in "the form of internships, clubs, etc." Students also laud the technical writing program here and tout the Honors College as "an excellent ‘school within the school' that allows smaller classes, more discussion, and more intellectually challenging material." Professors are a mixed bag at MSU, running the gamut from "amazing" to "horrible." The workload varies among programs, but most find it "tough but manageable for a student who in high school was a slightly above average or average student.""

Students Say - Campus Life
"Missouri State has a "very busy and interactive campus" where "there is always something going on in the residence halls and at the student union," ranging "from free movies to DVD bingo to concerts and lectures." The school not only "runs a lot of on-campus activities," but also "runs a shuttle route for off-campus stuff downtown as well," making it easy for students to enjoy Springfield, a town that "offers a lot of venues for live bands, eclectic and culturally unique foods, wines, clubs, and shopping." "Areas in Springfield are easily accessible and the town is growing by the day," notes one student. The town also provides opportunities for students to engage in MSU's public affairs mission. A student explains that "We try to stay involved not only with campus activities, but with the community as well. Students used their specialized skills to give back to the local community. Many accounting students, for example, work for free at local charity headquarters." The area is also great for outdoor activities, thanks to "the beautiful surrounding Ozark Mountains" and their numerous outlets for "camping, hiking, fishing, etc.""

Students Say - Student Body
""The overall makeup of Missouri State is mostly white Midwestern students, simply because that is what the area is like," but there is "a growing international student population, which is a very good thing and provides some diversity to the school." Within those parameters, students are "very diverse." "Some are very studious and strive for high academic achievement," says one student. "Some love to be involved with everything on campus, including Greek life, intramural sports, hall council and much more. Other students party continuously, while some just come to school, go home, and aren't involved with much of anything." Most are "from a public high school in either Kansas City, St. Louis, or some remote part of Missouri that no one has ever heard of.""

University of Missouri
Washington University in St. Louis

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