Strategy
By the Numbers: Springfield’s Education Sector
Area universities are sending a new class of graduates into the workplace this spring, so we compiled some numbers to gauge their economic impact.
By Karen Bliss
May 2018
Missouri State University
2017 operating budget: $286.6 million
Total employment (Fall 2017): 3,193 full- and part-time employees
Total enrollment (Fall 2017): 25,615 students
College of Business enrollment (Fall 2017): 5,511 students
College of Business undergraduate programs: 15 majors and 27 minors
Job placement rate (Academic year 2016–17): 81 percent
Percentage of graduates who stay in 417-land: Not available
Notable College of Business graduates: David Glass, class of 1960, former president and CEO of Walmart Inc., and Margaret Kelly, class of 1975, former state auditor of Missouri
Drury University
2017 operating budget: Undisclosed
Total employment: 416 full- and part-time employees
Total enrollment (Fall 2017): 3,125 students
Breech School of Business Administration enrollment: 442 students
Breech School of Business Administration undergraduate programs: 6 majors and 2 minors
Job placement rate (2017 graduates): 97 percent [Editor’s note: This includes students in graduate school or taking a gap year within six months of graduation.]
Percentage of students who stay in 417-land: Approximately 34 percent
Notable Breech School of Business Administration graduates: Johnny Morris, class of 1970, founder of Bass Pro Shops, and David O’Reilly, class of 1971, chairman of the board for O’Reilly Auto Parts
Evangel University
2017 budget: $38 million
Total employment (2017): 413 full- and part-time faculty and staff
Total enrollment (2017): 2,112 students
Department of Business enrollment (2017): 299 students
Department of Business undergraduate programs: 6 majors and 7 minors
Job placement rate (2017): 76 percent [Editor’s note: This omits students continuing their education.]
Percentage of graduates who stay in 417-land: Approximately 57 percent
Notable Department of Business graduates: Steve Poppen, class of 1991, chief financial officer of the Minnesota Vikings, and Eric Hansen, class of 1984, chief operating officer of BKD CPAs & Advisors and chair of the American Institute of CPAs
