Admissions

Undergraduate Students | Graduate Students | Online/Distance Learning Students

International Students | Undergraduate Transfer Student | Home School Students

Whether you are a first-time freshmen straight out of high school or a non-traditional student returning to school to enhance your career opportunities - MSSU is right for you.

We offer a wide range of options for completing your college degree ranging from the traditional college experience (including four choices for on-campus living), to Internet/distance learning courses for students interested in earning college credit online from anywhere in the world.

You come to Southern for a great education and we deliver, with four schools (Arts & Sciences, the Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration, Technology, and Education) and nearly 200 degree options.

Quality? Here’s proof:

100% pass rate on the National Radiologic Technologists Certification Exam
100% pass rate on the Registered Nurse Exams
100% pass rate on the Missouri Certification Exam for Environmental Health
Two faculty members among only 525 individuals in the world who are Certified Global Business Professionals
First in students passing the entire CPA exam compared with other regional universities offering undergraduate degrees in accounting.

To see plenty more quality, view our Points of Pride.

When you're ready for the next step into enhancing your education, the Admissions Office is here to help you.

What degree do I want?

Missouri Southern offers three different degree programs: Associate degree, Bachelor's degree or a Graduate degree. You may also take classes for personal enrichment, as a non-degree seeking student.

What is my preference for a major?

This decision is usually based on your career choice. What do you want to do? Do I want a traditional college experience (on campus) or more flexible class choices that fit into my schedule?

Undergraduate Students

Missouri Southern offers nearly 200 degree options for undergraduate students. You can qualify for many grants and scholarships for academic work or for performance awards in areas such as theater, athletics or other activities. You can gain leadership skills and meet lifelong friends in the more than 80 student organizations, and you can get excited about our highly competitive men's and women's NCAA Division II athletics teams. MSSU also offers a unique International Mission that provides outstanding study-abroad opportunities and an award-winning Themed Semester program. Ask an Admissions Counselor to help you learn more about MSSU. Learn more.

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Graduate Students

Missouri Southern State University's Graduate Program is founded upon the belief that all graduate students should be challenged to examine their practice from an analytical and reflective viewpoint. We believe your overall growth and learning is accomplished experientially, through problem solving, evaluation and reflection. The Graduate Program is dedicated to offering quality teaching and learning that emphasizes critical and creative thinking, professional growth, research, ethical practice and leadership development. Congruent with the University’s mission, Missouri Southern may collaborate with selected universities in order to offer distinctive graduate programs that foster the ideal of preparing students to compete in a diverse and dynamic world. Learn more about our Graduate Programs.

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Distance Students/Online

For more than 30 years, Missouri Southern has been a leader in developing high quality distance and online degree programs to meet the needs of today's diverse population. Our students take online courses while enrolled in traditional courses on campus, from their homes, in military environments and while keeping their current employment. Convenience and affordability are key components to our online programs. Look closer at our online offerings.

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International Students

Located in the very center of the United States, Missouri Southern State University is an ideal location for international students. The University has established bilateral partnerships with 16 universities worldwide to provide exchange opportunities for students. Missouri Southern also participates in the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). In addition, Southern recruits both international students and faculty to experience its enriching and challenging International Mission and its high-quality academic curriculum in Joplin, Missouri. Learn more about International Admissions.

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Undergraduate Transfer Students

Transfer Students will find a welcoming environment at Missouri Southern State University. We provide transfer articulation agreements with many community colleges and university in the region, offer many support services for non-traditional students, and other benefits such as:

Lifelong Learning credit or credit for work experience;
Credit for college work already completed;
CLEP credit with testing available;
Department credit by exam;
Nearly 200 degree options;
Small classes with the average size 24;
Affordable cost;
Financial Aid and scholarships specifically for transfer students.
Learn more.

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Home School Students

MSSU is popular among home school students who are looking for a university that shares many of their same educational values. Missouri Southern offers a challenging learning environment with a faculty that will provide the maximum amount of personal academic attention: