RECRUITS: ABOUT MSU | RETURN TO RECRUITS HOME
Missouri State University is a metropolitan campus located in the heart of Springfield, Missouri. Missouri State, with its over 21,000 student enrollment is the state's second largest university.
Overview
Missouri State University is a metropolitan campus located in the heart of Springfield, Missouri. Missouri State, with its nearly 23,000 student enrollment is the state's second largest university.
Missouri State University was founded as the Missouri State Normal School, Fourth District, by legislative action on March 17, 1905. Missouri State first opened its doors in June 1906. After 102 years and four name changes, Missouri State is a comprehensive state university system offering a wide variety of programs and services to its students and the citizens of the state.
Location
The city of Springfield, Mo., and the surrounding Ozarks region provide numerous services and activities to meet the needs of its citizens. As Missouri’s third largest city, Springfield, and its Ozark Mountain surroundings, offer all of the conveniences of city life with the laid back comforts of the outdoors just minutes away. With a population of nearly 200,000 in the city and nearly 400,000 in the metropolitan area Springfield is Missouri's third largest city. Springfield is accessible as it is within a 500-mile radius of nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population.
Links:
Academics
Missouri State offers more than 150 undergraduate degree programs as well as 47 graduate programs. With nearly 23,000 students Missouri State is able to offer all the resources you would expect from a major university. However, unlike most large universities, at Missouri State, you will receive that personal attention you need typically only experienced at smaller schools. The average class size at MSU is just 26 for freshman and sophomores level courses and 16 for juniors and seniors level courses. Missouri State students do not have to endure large auditorium size classes with hundreds of students and no individual attention or interaction from their professors.
Links:
Campus
Missouri State students enjoy some of the most outstanding academic, student life and athletic facilities in the Midwest. Major college campuses can often be overwhelming; not so at Missouri State. Missouri State's campus is compact. The design of our campus is unique for a major university and the ease it takes to get from class to class is rare at a university of our size. Missouri State students seldom have more than a five minute walk between classes.
Housing
Missouri State students enjoy the comforts of a nationally recognized and award-winning residence life system! Members of the track and field and cross country teams living on camppus are typically housed in Hammons House and Hutchens House dormitories. Hammons and Hutchens are both suite style dorms with each suite featuring two bedrooms, common area, a kitchenette and a private bathroom. Garst Dining Center conveniently connects Hammons and Hutchens Houses providing easy access to dining. Hammons and Hutchens House dorms also feature study rooms, computer labs, a fitness center, TV and recreation lounges, a market, Boomer's Cafe and free use laundry rooms.
Campus Life and Living in Springfield
Our students experience college life at its best, with NCAA Division I athletics and more than 250 student organizations to connect with. Missouri State students experience countless entertainment, education and cultural opportunities on campus throughout the Springfield community. Among the entertainment perks, Springfield supports a symphony, ballet, art museum, civic theater, professional baseball team and even an opera. The Battlefield Mall is one of the largest indoor shopping centers in the state, and there are nearly 1,500 retail outlets in the Springfield area, including Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.
Admissions
Missouri State is a selective admissions institution attracting top students from every county in Missouri, nearly every state and over 80 countries. Incoming freshman at Missouri State in the fall of 2008 had an average ACT of 24.2, a grade point average of 3.44 and over 83% were ranked among the top half of their class. For admission to Missouri State incoming freshman must meet core curriculum requirements as well as meet a selection index score comprised of class rank, grade point average and ACT or SAT scores.
Links:
Costs and Financial Aid
Our tuition and fees are very affordable and are below the average for public colleges in Missouri, and our room and board rates are among the state’s very lowest. As you look for the means pay for college know that Missouri State offers many forms of financial aid including academic awards, need based grants and aid as well as athletic scholarships. The Missouri State Promise Scholarship is designed for the neediest students in Missouri. Incoming students from both in and out of state can begin qualifying for academic scholarships once they have reached ACT scores of 24. Out-of-State students will have all of their out-of-state fees waived if they achieve one of the following: 24 ACT, 3.7 GPA or top 20% in their class. Information on several other forms of academic, service oriented and need based financial aid options are available through the financial aid office web site. Athletic scholarship awards are determined by the coaching staff at Missouri State through the recruiting process.