Below is a collection of talking points that support the University's marketing messages. Departments and offices are welcome to reuse these messages within presentations or publications, or as a starting point for developing individualized talking points.

Basic points

About Missouri State

• Main campus located in Springfield, with 20,000+ students
• Mission in public affairs gives students distinction
• Choice of 150+ undergraduate and 45+ graduate programs
• Costs lower than state and national averages
• Reputation for being warm and welcoming
• 85,000+ alumni applying their education around the world

Remarkable education

• There are 150+ undergraduate and 45+ graduate programs
• Select number of doctoral and certification programs
• 700+ full-time faculty
• Nearly 90 percent of ranked faculty have doctorate or highest degree in field

Distinctive public affairs mission

• Three components: cultural competence, ethical leadership, community engagement
• Mission influences what is taught, what is done on campus
• Public Affairs Week, Public Affairs Conference both held annually
• Students provide 100,000+ hours of community service each year

Unbeatable value

• Overall cost lower than state, national averages
• Room and board rates among lowest in state
• 75 percent of students receive some form of financial aid
• Students get in free to many campus events, including athletic games  

Memorable experiences

• 250+ student organizations
• 6 men’s/10 women’s NCAA Division I teams
• Springfield, third-largest city in Missouri, blends small-town friendliness, big-city amenities
• Compact, attractive, safe campus with bike paths, free shuttles

Lifetime success

• Career Center has extensive services for both students and alumni
• Largest internship program in state
• Career fairs frequently held on campus
• Strong network of 85,000+ alumni

Additional points

Distinctive mission, remarkable education

• Our public affairs mission sets Missouri State University apart. It’s about being a good citizen, helping the community in which you live, getting involved and becoming a leader with strong ethics.
• Breadth/mix of academic programs
  • Missouri State offers 150+ undergraduate majors and 45+ graduate degree programs, including a doctorate in audiology and a cooperative doctorate (Ed.D.) through the University of Missouri at Columbia.
• Quality of programs and student outcomes
  • The University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools as well as by 23 professional associations, including the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools for Public Affairs and Administration, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the American Chemical Society, the Council on Social Work Education, and the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. 
• Strength of faculty
  • We have over 700 full-time faculty, and nearly 90 percent of our ranked faculty have a doctorate or the highest degree in their field.
• Research opportunities
  • Faculty and student research conducted throughout the University System ranges in scope from the studies of grape genomics and meteor impacts to early childhood development and juvenile crime, and has the potential to positively affect local communities, Missouri, the nation, and, ultimately, the globe.
  • Missouri State University received $22.4 million from a total of 141 grants and contracts awarded to faculty and staff during 2007-08. 
• Internships
  • Missouri State offers the largest internship program in the state, which gives its students a competitive edge and encourages employers to hire its graduates.

Affordable choice, unbeatable value

• Our required student fees (which you probably will refer to as “tuition and fees”) are right at the average for public colleges in Missouri. Our room and board rates are among the very lowest in the state. Our combined cost of fees and room and board makes our total cost of attendance compare very well with any other public institution in the state.
• As a student at Missouri State, you will have access to a wide range of services at no additional charge.
• You will be able to obtain discounted tickets to many concerts and events on campus.
• Our comprehensive scholarship and financial aid program provides extensive student aid.
• Most importantly, the career opportunities that a degree from Missouri State will give you represent a tremendous return on your investment.

Memorable experiences, lifetime success

• You will have access to our Career Center, which works aggressively with students to help them secure employment after graduation. Our campus is surprisingly compact and comfortable, allowing for just a short walk between most residence halls and classroom buildings.
• Our 10 residence halls offer a variety of living and dining options. Studies have shown you’re more likely to earn a higher grade point average if you live on campus. Our freshman orientation course and learning community are specifically designed to help incoming freshmen meet other students, learn about campus resources and services, and become comfortable with the campus.
• Missouri State is known for having a compact, attractive, safe campus. We have a city police substation on campus, plus well-lit public spaces, safety phones throughout campus, surveillance cameras in parking lots and swipe-card access to the residence halls. The Missouri State Alert system contacts students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency or school closing
• Springfield is Missouri's third largest city and located in the fastest growing region in the state.
  • Missouri State is minutes from downtown Springfield, a vibrant area with boutiques, cinemas, performing-arts theaters, pubs, restaurants and other attractions. 
  • Springfield has numerous parks, each with a different personality.
  • Springfield has a strong commitment to the arts, featuring a performing arts center, symphony, art museum and more.
  • Springfield has impressive venues for baseball, softball, basketball, golf, ice-skating, soccer, tennis and more.  
  • Springfield offers a number of places to worship, and includes churches of many Christian denominations, an Islamic center, and a Jewish synagogue .
• You will experience a campus that values diversity. More than eight percent of our full-time undergraduate students are members of ethnic minorities or are from other countries.
• Many Missouri State alumni have gone on to achieve successful careers. Noted alumni include David D. Glass, 1960 graduate and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Board of Directors, and owner, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals Baseball Organization; John Goodman, 1975 graduate and film and television star; Kathleen Turner, a film and stage actor who attended Missouri State University; and Tess Harper, 1972 graduate and film and television star. Others include actor/director Sterling Macer and former National League MVP and 2008 World Series winner Ryan Howard.