Admit rate has ranged 49%–66% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Missouri Valley College is a small, private liberal arts school in Marshall, Missouri, with a scrappy underdog vibe and a focus on practical career preparation. Known for its accessible admissions (69% acceptance rate) and robust financial aid (98% of students receive assistance), it attracts a diverse student body but struggles with low graduation rates (24%). The college shines in hands-on programs like nursing, business, and education, and fosters tight-knit campus life through athletics and student organizations.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,443
In-state tuition
$23,700
Out-of-state tuition
$23,700
Founded
1889
Location
Marshall, MO
Acceptance Rate
52.7–69.2%
Graduation Rate
24%
Student-Faculty Ratio
16:1
Median Alumni Earnings
$36,902 (6 yrs post-enrollment)
Students Receiving Aid
98%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$43,221
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$25,950
Graduation rate
22%
First-year retention
53%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
43%
Pell (lower-income) share
67%
First-generation share
40%
Endowment / student
$8,474
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$33,993
Criminal Justice and Corrections$33,459
Psychology, General$32,653
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
80
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
42.2"
Annual snow
18.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
23
Scholarly works
121
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.2%
Bottom → top quintile
10%
From bottom quintile
12%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Missouri Valley College?
Missouri Valley College's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Marshall, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Missouri Valley College?
Admitted students at Missouri Valley College typically score 895–1115 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Missouri Valley College cost?
At Missouri Valley College, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,086 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Missouri Valley College?
Missouri Valley College enrolls approximately 1,443 undergraduate students.
Where is Missouri Valley College located?
Missouri Valley College is located in Marshall, MO.
Admissions
Missouri Valley College is decidedly not a selective institution, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 52.7% to 69.2% depending on the reporting source. Applications have surged recently—up 20% over two years—but the school still admits most applicants, including those with modest test scores (ACT 16–22, SAT 900–1120). Notably, test scores are considered but not required, making it accessible to students with weaker academic records. The college has seen a 6% increase in admitted students recently, suggesting a deliberate effort to grow enrollment.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Missouri Valley offers 30+ majors, with a pragmatic bent toward nursing, business, education, and health professions. The curriculum leans vocational, though traditional liberal arts programs exist. Class sizes are small (student-faculty ratio 16:1), fostering close interaction. Founded in 1889, the college has a long history but remains modest in scale, with about 1,500 students. Notably, it provides online and hybrid programs, including an RN-to-BSN track, catering to non-traditional students. While not prestigious—U.S. News ranks it low on outcomes—the focus is squarely on job readiness rather than intellectual exploration.
Life at Missouri Valley revolves around athletics (it’s an NAIA school) and student organizations, with a notably social atmosphere. Reviews hint at a party-friendly culture ('You’ll definitely feel awkward if you don’t drink'). The campus is small and communal, with 1,558 undergraduates (2023 data), many living on-site. Clubs range from performing arts to niche interest groups, though options are limited compared to larger schools. The college promotes its diversity ('students from around the world'), but Marshall, MO, is rural and isolated—off-campus excitement is scarce.
Graduation rates are alarmingly low: just 24% overall (18% for men, slightly higher for women), placing MVC in the bottom 5% nationally. Six years post-enrollment, alumni earn a median $36,902—16% below the national average. U.S. News gives the college a dismal 14/100 score for outcomes, with few grads outpacing high school diploma holders financially. The 'payback period' (time to recoup costs) is 2.19 years, a rare bright spot thanks to low tuition. These metrics suggest many students struggle to persist or leverage their degrees effectively.
Missouri Valley is aggressively affordable. After aid, the average net price is $18,396, with 98% of students receiving assistance (grants, scholarships, or federal/state aid). The average aid package totals $19,012–$19,290, often covering most tuition. This generosity likely explains rising enrollment despite weak outcomes. The college provides a Net Price Calculator to estimate costs, signaling transparency. For students priced out of pricier options, MVC offers a financial lifeline—but the low graduation rates mean many may not reap the long-term benefits.
Missouri Valley’s appeal lies in its accessibility and practicality. It’s a no-frills option for students who might not thrive at more competitive schools, offering generous aid and career-focused programs. The tight-knit campus fosters camaraderie, though the party reputation and rural setting won’t suit everyone. Its glaring weakness—abysmal graduation rates—makes it a gamble, but for those who persist, the low debt burden and hands-on majors (like nursing) provide a viable path to the workforce. It’s a classic 'second-chance' school, prioritizing opportunity over prestige.
Missouri Valley College logo · sourceVisit Missouri Valley College - Schedule a Campus Tour · sourceStudent Life - Missouri Valley College · sourceMissouri Valley College: Bachelor and Master Degree Programs · source
