Missouri State University

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Missouri State University Programs and Degrees

Missouri State appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Bachelor’s in Creative Writing or Professional Writing Degrees Online. Students who want to study at a state university will find degree programs and certificates for nearly all educational needs at Missouri State. The agricultural focus contains degrees in:
  • business
  • communications
  • animal sciences and more
The Agricultural Business programs offer a BS and a graduate degree. Students can earn:
  • a Bachelor of Applied Science in Animal Science
  • a BS or a graduate degree in General Agriculture
  • a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources
At Missouri State University, business students can earn:
  • a BS in General Business
  • a BS in Management
  • a BS in Mass Media
  • a BS in Marketing
  • a BS in Health Services
  • a BS in Health Services in the Clinical Services Option
These programs are also available in graduate degrees and are offered online. There is also an MBA which can be earned online. Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Biology as well as a graduate degree. There are options for specialization in:
  • Environmental Biology and Evolution
  • Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Pre-teacher Education
  • Wildlife Biology
The school offers a BS in Chemistry as well. The BSN at Missouri State University targets students who already have an RN license. Undergraduate students may also major in:
  • Child and Family Development
  • Anthropology
  • History
  • Political Science
  • Journalism
  • Dance and Theater
  • Music and other programs
The school allows students to tailor their own programs in either a Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Study or a Bachelor of Science in Individualized Study. There are nine undergraduate majors online such as:
  • professional writing
  • criminal justice
  • psychology
There are also two certificate programs and 12 minors that can be earned through Missouri State Outreach- Missouri State Online. Graduate Degrees are offered in more than 85 disciplines including education and social work. Many of these graduate programs are offered in an accelerated version. Online graduate degrees include, among others
  • an MS in Special Education, Blindness and Low Vision Option
  • an MS in Project Management
  • MS in Early Childhood and Family Development
  • MS in Education-Educational Technology
  • Master of Arts in History
  • Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice MS to DNP
  • a Doctor of Nursing Practice Post Master’s to DNP.

About Missouri State University

This school is the second largest university in Missouri. The public state school was founded in 1906 as the Fourth District Normal School. It is comprised of:
  • seven colleges
  • an online outreach component
  • a graduate school
The university also has a fruit research station and a Strategic Studies program for the Department of Defense at Fairfax, Virginia. The undergraduate student population at Missouri State University is 24,350. Most classes have between 20 and 49 students. The student/faculty ratio is 21:1. The US News and World Report ranks Missouri State University as number 111 of Regional Universities-Midwest. The school also ranks as number 32 of Top Public Schools and ties for number 274 for its business programs.

Missouri State University Accreditation Details

The university is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. There are many organizations that accredit specific programs or colleges. Some of these are:
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.
  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
  • American Physical Therapy Association Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • Commission on College Nursing Education
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • Council on Social Work Education-Commission on Accreditation

Missouri State University Application Requirements

Students applying as freshmen to Missouri State University should open an electronic profile with the school and complete an online application form. There is a $35 non-refundable application fee that must be paid at the time students submit their application forms. They also must arrange for the transfer (also electronically ) of their high school transcripts and scores for SAT or ACT, whichever they took. Besides these general requisites, there may be additional requested materials. Graduate students apply online as well. There is a non-refundable $55 application fee for the graduate school. Other requisites vary by program, such as:
  • GRE scores
  • letters of recommendation
  • resumes
  • essays
For the convenience of the applicant, graduate application forms are program-specific and note these requirements.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Missouri State University is currently $7,376 including student fees. Housing and meal programs add another $8,755 on average. Books and supplies are estimated to cost $1,200 per year. That means the estimated cost of attendance for undergraduates is $17,381 per year. Students should also budget for personal expenses. The cost of undergraduate courses per-credit-hour varies according to the course number, with higher-level courses costing more. In general, though, they range from $214 per credit hour to about $304. The estimated cost of attendance for graduate students, including room and board, books and supplies, is $22,043 per year. Graduate courses cost more per credit hour. A Master of Science in Computer Information Systems, for instance, costs $430 per credit hour. Most students will need financial assistance to meet their school debts. The first step in getting this help is completing the FAFSA. This is the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance. The government program uses information submitted by the student about financial need to award:
  • grants
  • loans
  • work-study opportunities
Missouri offers help for students earning degrees as well. The Access Missouri Grant is a needs-based opportunity. Bright Flight is a Missouri grant based on scholastic merit. In addition, the Marguerite Ross Barnette Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students chosen from applicants who work while earning their degrees. Missouri State University offers several merit-based awards and some that are both needs-and-merit based. There are activity scholarships and money offered for participation in sports. There are scholarships available to students in certain departments or programs. There are also monies available to special populations that are funded by private individuals. Service organizations and corporate entities often fund scholarships as well. These opportunities can be found in an Internet search. Students who exhaust all the grants and scholarships they earned and still find a shortfall in their financing may take out student loans. These are loans that carry low internet rates and generally allow students to defer repayment until after graduation. Another option for getting the funds needed to pay school obligations is work-study. This program usually operates through federal dollars given to the university. It allows students to work part-time in accordance with their scholastic schedules. There are many ways to meet the financial obligation of earning a degree at Missouri State University.

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