Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) has been designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications. The designation recognizes MSU-WP as an institution that can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success.
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area. In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
Reaction to the new designation
“To say the least, we are proud of this unexpected new recognition for Missouri State University-West Plains by the Carnegie Foundation,” MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster said. “This national recognition reflects our deep commitment to providing high-quality, career-focused education while expanding access and opportunity for our students. It affirms that our graduates are not only achieving their educational goals but also thriving in the workforce.
“For more than 63 years, Missouri State-West Plains has proudly opened the doors of higher education to the people of south-central Missouri, offering affordable, accessible degrees and workforce development programs that change lives,” Lancaster added. “Our open-admission policy has welcomed thousands of students with big dreams and given them the tools to succeed. This new classification is a powerful validation of our efforts, proving that when given access to education, our students not only succeed, but they also thrive, earning good-paying jobs both here at home and across the nation. We are proud to serve our region, and we are more energized than ever to keep building opportunities, strengthening communities, and changing futures.”
Dr. Michael Orf, vice chancellor of academic affairs, echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the tangible impact of MSU-WP’s mission. “We are very proud of this recognition,” Orf said. “The Carnegie Classification of Missouri State University-West Plains is a testament to the power of higher education to change lives. Our region is one of the poorest in Missouri, but the results of this show that we provide a path for students in our region to start a great career. The data shows our graduates earn 30% more on average than individuals in that same region who do not attend college.”
The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.
More information about the 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found on the Carnegie Classifications of Higher Education website at https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/.
About the Carnegie Classification
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.
About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.
About the American Council on Education
ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities and associations, ACE designs solutions for today’s challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. Learn more at www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X (formerly Twitter) @ACEducation and LinkedIn american-council-on-education.