Harris-Stowe State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Harris-Stowe State University charges a net price of $9,922/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $39,688. Median earnings ten years after entry are $31,088, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Harris-Stowe State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #64 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,922/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $39,688 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $31,088 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$17,272/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,930 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$385,128 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Harris-Stowe State University's own numbers. Net price $9,922 × 4 years = $39,688 total. Median earnings $31,088 fall $17,272 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $39,688 bill in about 4.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Harris-Stowe State University students graduate with?
A median $25,930 in federal loans among completers, or 83% of the $31,088 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Harris-Stowe State University students graduate?
28% finish their degree — 72% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $39,688 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $141,743 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Harris-Stowe State University expensive compared with other Missouri colleges?
Its $9,922 net price runs $8,164 below the $18,086 median across the 71 Missouri colleges we profile, and $32,656 less across the full degree.