Missouri State University-Springfield offers psychology programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including a BA or BS in Psychology and a Master of Science in Psychology with concentrations in Applied Behavior Analysis, Clinical, Experimental, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology. MSU-Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is the original campus of the four-campus Missouri State system, located in Springfield, MO.
Founded in 1905, Missouri State University-Springfield is the original and largest of the four Missouri State campuses, enrolling approximately 23,700 students across more than 90 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate programs and certificates. Psychology degrees are housed in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services alongside healthcare sciences, social work, and sports medicine.
Accreditation Details
MSU-Springfield holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, covering undergraduate and graduate degrees across every delivery format. The Master of Science in Psychology holds additional program-level accreditation from the Council of Applied Master’s Programs in Psychology (CAMPP). MSU-Springfield also holds discipline-specific accreditation for several other programs, including nursing, social work, public health, nutrition and dietetics, physical therapy, and athletic training, through their respective national accrediting bodies.
Application Requirements
MSU-Springfield accepts first-time undergraduates, transfer students, graduate and doctoral candidates, adult learners, and international students through a single online application and a non-refundable $35 fee.
- First-year students and transfers: official secondary school or equivalency documentation and ACT or SAT scores. Students with 24 or more transferable college credit hours are considered transfer applicants and submit official transcripts in place of standardized test scores. A supplemental application applies to alternative admission pathways.
- Graduate candidates: a bachelor’s degree from an institution meeting university criteria, GRE or GMAT scores as required by the program, a personal statement, recommendation letters, and a resume.
- International students: the same degree-level submissions as U.S. applicants, official English translations of academic records where required, proof of English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or the Missouri State ELI, and a signed statement of financial support.
Adult learners follow the standard enrollment process. Students not seeking a degree can enroll part-time, subject to course availability.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For the 2026-2027 academic year, Missouri State’s Board of Governors set base tuition at $317 per credit hour for Missouri residents and $678 per credit hour for non-residents on seated undergraduate courses (1-599), and $414 per credit hour for residents and $825 for non-residents on graduate courses (600-999). Online courses are billed at the resident rate of $ 317 per credit hour (undergraduate) or $414 per credit hour (graduate), regardless of residency. Courses in the McQueary College of Health and Human Services, which houses psychology, incur an additional per-credit enrollment fee in addition to base tuition. Because the Board of Governors revises rates annually, prospective students should confirm current figures on the university’s tuition and fee schedule before budgeting for a specific term.
Students can apply for federal aid through FAFSA, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study, as well as Missouri state grant programs, including Access Missouri and other programs administered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development. MSU-Springfield also offers institutional and donor-funded scholarships tied to specific programs and student populations.
Psychology Programs at Missouri State University-Springfield
Psychology programs at MSU-Springfield prepare students for entry-level roles in business, education, healthcare, and government, as well as for graduate study leading to counseling licensure.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The 120-credit BA or BS in Psychology can be completed in as few as three years. The BA track includes additional coursework in foreign language, history, and fine arts. Upper-division coursework covers human development, learning and cognition, biological processes, and applied psychology, culminating in a capstone project. Students can add a 12-credit certificate in forensic child psychology to their degree.
Master of Science in Psychology
Graduate students choose a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis, Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychology, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The program awards a Master of Science rather than a Master of Arts, a distinction that matters when comparing programs. The program requires a minimum of 47 credits covering specialization coursework, directed research, practicum or clinical experience, and a thesis. Graduates can sit for board exams, apply for state licensure, or pursue doctoral programs in psychology in Missouri.
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