First-generation friendly
Missouri State University is committed to helping first-generation students succeed.
At Missouri State, we embrace the experience, skills and values that our first-generation college students bring to campus.
Missouri State University Theatre & Dance troupe Giving Voice explores San Diego
Over a third of our 21,000 undergraduates are first-generation ("first-gen") college students. Why not make your own unique Missouri Statement at a university that’s truly first-generation friendly, cost-effective and career-focused?
Missouri State University is the second largest university in Missouri. We are a public, comprehensive metropolitan university, distinguished by our statewide mission in public affairs. We emphasize ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement in everything we do. This means that you’ll have many opportunities to use what you learn in the classroom to improve the lives of others, even before you graduate. At MSU, we practice what we preach. In the 2017-2018 academic year, more than 103,000 hours of service worth $2.4 million were contributed to the community through through Bear Service, a "set of programs and reciprocal partnerships connecting the Missouri State community with meaningful service opportunities" (Academic Year 2018 Annual Report from the Center for Community Engagement).
Also consider that Missouri State offers an exceptional education at a great price. You can pursue your passion by choosing from over 190 undergraduate degree options. At $9,204/year, our in-state tuition costs $1000 less per year than the national average for four-year public universities (figures from 2023-24; see MSU's Undergraduate Tuition, Costs and Fees page). Over 70% of our bachelor's students receive financial aid.
So why not join us at Missouri State! We hope the resources on these pages provide you with lots of useful information. Don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way.