Fall 2011 Graduate Enrollment: Total headcount,
161; in-state, 147; out-of-state, 7; others, 7;
3.7 percent ethnic minority; 76 percent female
Average ACT Score: 20.2 for incoming freshmen
Missouri Western State University
2012 Facts
Missouri Western State University is a
comprehensive regional university providing a blend
of traditional liberal arts and professional degree
programs. The university offers student-centered,
high-quality instruction that focuses on experiencebased learning, community service, and state-of-theart technology. As an open access institution with a
statewide mission in applied learning, Missouri
Western proudly serves the state and is a vigilant
guardian of its fiscal resources. Western is located in
St. Joseph, Missouri, and is committed to the
educational, economic, cultural and social
development of the region it serves.
Founding: Originally founded as St. Joseph Junior
College in 1915 to provide a two-year liberal arts
transfer program, Western transformed into a
four-year college in 1969, and became a full member
of the state of Missouri system in 1977. Western
received statutory authority to change its name, and
on August 28, 2005, became Missouri Western State
University.
President: Robert A. Vartabedian, Ph.D.
Location: St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph Population: 76,197
Main Campus Size: 723 acres
FY 2012 Budget: $48,264,681
Deferred Maintenance: Top 10 deferred
maintenance needs total more than $34 million
Scholarships and Grants Offered to Western
Students: Total scholarships, $7,410,976; Total
grants, $14,354,491
Fall 2011 Total Enrollment: 6,296 students
Fall 2011 Undergraduate Enrollment: Total
headcount, 6,135; in-state, 5,619; out-of-state, 463;
others, 42; 11.65 percent ethnic minority; 25 percent
nontraditional; 56.7 percent female
Freshman Retention Rate: 61.9 percent
Degrees and Certificates Granted in FY 2011: Total,
758; master's degrees, 21; graduate certificates, 10;
bachelor's degrees, 672; associate degrees, 48;
undergraduate certificates, 7
Degree Programs: Total, 75; bachelor’s, 57;
master’s, 6; associate, 6; certificate, 2; postbaccalaureate certificate, 4
Programs: Majors, 94; minors, 41
Academic Departments/Schools: 18
Average Class Size: 25
Student/Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Full-time Employees (benefit-eligible): 505
Full-time Faculty: 189; 75 percent hold doctorates;
85 percent hold terminal degrees; 55 percent are
tenured
Accreditation: Western is accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools and is an
Academic Quality Improvement Program participant.
Program-specific accreditations are sanctioned by
the American Chemical Society, Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International,
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics
and Information Management Education,
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education, Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education, Council on Social Work Education,
National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory
Science, National Association of Schools of Music,
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
Education, and Technology Accreditation
Commission of the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology. Missouri Western also
has the All-Steinway School designation, the
American Chemical Society curriculum approval, and
the American Bar Association approval.
Library Holdings: Approximately 226,000 volumes,
1,200 journals, state government documents, and 70
electronic databases; access is available to 1.5 billion
items held by other libraries
Student Organizations/Clubs: 77
Living Alumni: Total, 22,119; Missouri, 16,286;
Kansas, 1,713; St. Joseph Area, 7,146; St. Louis Area,
467; Kansas City Area, 4,586
FY 2012 Undergraduate Tuition/Required Fees per
Credit Hour: In-state, $231.53; out-of-State, $401.46
FY 2012 Graduate Tuition/Required Fees per Credit
Hour: In-state, $310.06; out-of-state, $568.81
FY 2012 Room and Board Rates per Academic Year:
Various options are available, including traditional,
apartment and suite living. Residential room and
board rates vary from $6,796 to $8,880, depending
on accommodations and meal plan selected. At
present, 23 percent of Western’s students reside on
campus.
Residential Halls: 7
Mascot: The Griffon – A griffon is a mythical
creature that is half lion and half eagle. It was
chosen in 1918 as the mascot of St. Joseph Junior
College, which later became Missouri Western State
University. The Griffon was selected because it was
considered a guardian of riches, and education is
viewed as a precious treasure. The wings of
Western’s mascot are spread in the shape of the
state of Missouri to signify the union of the college
with the state university system in 1977.
Colors: Black and gold
Slogan: Discover Gold
Athletic Affiliations: NCAA Division II; Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Training Camp: Western is the official summer
home of the Kansas City Chiefs
Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph, Missouri
www.missouriwestern.edu