State 34 Colleges 23 Public 16 Community

Colleges in Mississippi

Ranked, compared, and filtered by real data: costs, outcomes, and admissions

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About Mississippi

Ole Miss and Mississippi State carry on a rivalry as old as the state's post-Civil War higher education system, with the former oriented more toward law, business, and liberal arts and the latter toward agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine.

Mississippi is one of the most affordable states in the country for higher education, and its network of HBCUs, including Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Mississippi Valley State, maintains an important tradition in a state where that history carries particular weight.

By Ownership

Public

Nonprofit

For-Profit

By Type

4-Year

2-Year

Why Study in Mississippi?

PROS

Most affordable in-state tuition Among the most affordable states in the country for in-state college tuition at both public and private institutions.
Mississippi Tuition Grant Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant supports students attending accredited private colleges in-state.
Strong HBCU network Jackson State, Alcorn State, and other HBCUs carry long-standing academic missions and alumni networks.
Stable local career demand Agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors anchor consistent in-state career demand.

CONS

Low starting salaries in state Mississippi consistently ranks near the bottom in per-capita income, limiting what local employers can pay graduates.
Ongoing brain drain Brain drain toward Memphis, Atlanta, and Houston creates a thinner in-state professional network over time.
Funding cuts affect programs Higher education funding has been cut repeatedly, affecting program availability and faculty retention at public institutions.

How Mississippi Compares

See how Mississippi's colleges compare to the national average on the four measures most students and families weigh when deciding where to go: cost, acceptance rates, graduate earnings, and graduation rates.

Avg Net Price / yr $11,581 ↓ $6,240 below national National avg: $17,821/yr

Avg Acceptance Rate 75.0% ↑ 2.5% above national National avg: 72.5%

Median Earnings (10yr) $36,968 ↓ $11,221 below national National avg: $48,189

Avg Graduation Rate 34.8% ↓ 11.0% below national National avg: 45.8%

Acceptance Rate Trend (2019–2023) Stable ↑ 0.8 pts since 2019

Top Colleges in Mississippi

The colleges in Mississippi that rank highest by UCD Score, and those that deliver above-national graduate earnings at a below-average net price, two of the strongest signals when choosing a school.

Highest UCD Score

Summit Strong

Southwest Mississippi Community College

$2,525 Net price $33,227 Earnings 10yr

Fulton Strong

Itawamba Community College

$4,616 Net price $32,912 Earnings 10yr

Wesson Strong

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

$3,894 Net price $31,241 Earnings 10yr

University Strong

University of Mississippi

$13,314 Net price $50,994 Earnings 10yr

Clarksdale Strong

Coahoma Community College

$-274 Net price $24,289 Earnings 10yr

Scooba Strong

East Mississippi Community College

$4,608 Net price $33,772 Earnings 10yr

Best Value Colleges

Moorhead 7.7× ROI

Mississippi Delta Community College

$3,715 Net price $28,421 Earnings 10yr

Raymond 7.6× ROI

Hinds Community College

$4,060 Net price $30,774 Earnings 10yr

Decatur 6.2× ROI

East Central Community College

$5,240 Net price $32,421 Earnings 10yr

Goodman 5.8× ROI

Holmes Community College

$5,643 Net price $32,922 Earnings 10yr

Ellisville 5.5× ROI

Jones County Junior College

$6,048 Net price $33,377 Earnings 10yr

Poplarville 5.1× ROI

Pearl River Community College

$6,532 Net price $33,019 Earnings 10yr

Browse All Colleges in Mississippi →

Best Colleges by Goal

Not every student is looking for the same thing. These six panels rank Mississippi's colleges by the data that matters most for each path.

1
University of Mississippi University
$50,994
2
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston
$33,017
3
University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg
$44,140

1
Mississippi State University Mississippi State
$51,513
2
University of Mississippi University
$50,994
3
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston
$33,017

1
University of Mississippi University
$50,994
2
Mississippi State University Mississippi State
$51,513
3
University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg
$44,140

1
Coahoma Community College Clarksdale
$-274
2
Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit
$2,525
3
Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead
$3,715

1
Hinds Community College Raymond
$4,060
2
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston
$6,962
3
Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia
$7,911

1
Millsaps College Jackson
$53,848
2
Mississippi State University Mississippi State
$51,513
3
University of Mississippi University
$50,994

Career Outcomes & ROI

Which colleges give you the most for what you spend? These eight schools rank highest in Mississippi by the ratio of 10-year graduate earnings to annual net price.

#	College	Net Price / yr	Earnings (10yr)	Ratio	Rating
1	Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit	$2,525	$33,227	13.2×	Excellent
2	Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson	$3,894	$31,241	8.0×	Excellent
3	Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead	$3,715	$28,421	7.7×	Excellent
4	Hinds Community College Raymond	$4,060	$30,774	7.6×	Excellent
5	East Mississippi Community College Scooba	$4,608	$33,772	7.3×	Excellent
6	Itawamba Community College Fulton	$4,616	$32,912	7.1×	Excellent
7	East Central Community College Decatur	$5,240	$32,421	6.2×	Excellent
8	Holmes Community College Goodman	$5,643	$32,922	5.8×	Excellent

ROI Ratio = median earnings 10 years after enrollment ÷ annual net price. Higher is better.

Popular Majors in Mississippi

The six fields of study with the most annual graduates across all colleges in Mississippi, based on IPEDS completion data.

HEALTH +9.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Health

3,924 Colleges 26 Specializations

BUSINESS +4.7% Avg Growth · BLS

Business

3,021 Colleges 22 Specializations

HUMANITIES +1.8% Avg Growth · BLS

Liberal Arts

2,214 Colleges 1 Specializations

HEALTH +4.4% Avg Growth · BLS

Biology

1,895 Colleges 14 Specializations

STEM +4.0% Avg Growth · BLS

Engineering

1,297 Colleges 41 Specializations

Browse All Majors

Top Programs in Mississippi

The specific degree programs producing the most graduates across Mississippi's colleges. A more granular view than the Popular Majors above, useful when you already know roughly what you want to study and want to see where the volume is.

Program Colleges Grads/yr Earnings · 4yr

Liberal Arts 26.0 5,386.0 $53,072

Nursing 23.0 2,694.0 $88,910

Business Administration 28.0 2,619.0 $68,257

Teacher Education (K-12) 22.0 1,999.0 $47,382

Biology 22.0 1,180.0 $57,214

Psychology 20.0 1,046.0 $50,706

Kinesiology 18.0 949.0 $54,562

Accounting 25.0 810.0 $76,194

Browse All Programs

Colleges by City in Mississippi

The cities in Mississippi with the most colleges, ranked by number of institutions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has 34 accredited colleges and universities: 23 public, 9 private nonprofit, 2 for-profit. Of those, 16 are two-year community or technical colleges.

What does it actually cost to go to college in Mississippi?

The average net price across Mississippi colleges is $11,581 per year. That's what students pay after grants and scholarships, not the sticker tuition. That's $6,240 below the national average of $17,821, relatively affordable compared to most states. This figure blends public and private schools together; public in-state tuition usually runs lower, while private college costs swing widely based on each school's aid policy.

How hard is it to get into college in Mississippi?

The average acceptance rate across Mississippi colleges is 75.0%. It's close to the national average of 72.5%. That's a blended average. Open-enrollment community colleges accept all applicants, while flagship universities and selective private schools admit far fewer. Difficulty varies more by program than by state.

How much do Mississippi college graduates earn?

Ten years after first enrolling, the typical graduate from a Mississippi college earns $36,968 per year. That's $11,221 below the national median of $48,189. Earnings split sharply by field. Healthcare, engineering, and technology programs sit well above this median, while graduates in education, social work, and the arts often land below it.

Is going to college in Mississippi worth it financially?

Looking at net price versus 10-year graduate earnings, Mississippi colleges produce a solid return, with graduates earning roughly3.2× the annual cost of attendance within a decade. Graduates on average recoup the annual net price more than twice over in yearly earnings. The Career Outcomes section above ranks individual schools; the spread between the best and worst-value colleges in Mississippi is wide enough that school choice matters more than the state average.

Does Mississippi have community colleges?

Yes. Mississippi has 16 two-year colleges, including community colleges, technical institutes, and workforce training schools. These institutions carry the lowest net prices in the state and serve students pursuing associate degrees, transfer credits toward a four-year degree, or workforce credentials in fields like healthcare, IT, and the trades. Starting at a community college and transferring is a common and cost-effective path in Mississippi.

What percentage of students graduate from Mississippi colleges?

On average, 34.8% of students who enroll at Mississippi colleges finish their degree within six years. That's 11.0 points below the national average of 45.8%. This varies considerably by institution. Selective four-year universities graduate a much higher share than open-enrollment schools, where part-time enrollment and work commitments affect completion timelines. Always look at a specific school's six-year rate, not the state average.

Where are the best nursing programs in Mississippi?

Ranked by annual nursing and health program graduates, the top nursing schools in Mississippi are University of Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and University of Southern Mississippi. These rankings use IPEDS completions data for CIP 51 (health professions), schools that produce the largest number of graduates per year. Availability varies by credential level; confirm whether a school offers BSN, ADN, or graduate nursing tracks before applying.

What is the cheapest college in Mississippi?

Coahoma Community College is the most affordable college in Mississippi by net price at $-274 per year. Net price is what students pay after grants and scholarships. The actual cost for lower-income students can be significantly less. Community colleges and public schools dominate the low-cost end, though some private colleges with strong aid programs compete on net price despite higher sticker tuitions.

What are the most popular majors at colleges in Mississippi?

The most-completed fields of study across Mississippi colleges are Health, Business, Liberal Arts and Education, based on IPEDS degree completion records. High completion numbers reflect both student demand and how many schools offer the program. Larger public universities drive a lot of the volume. If you're choosing a major based on earnings potential, look at the career outcomes for each field rather than how many students study it.

Mississippi at a Glance

Total Colleges: 34
Avg UCD Score: 65.9
Avg Net Price / yr: $11,581
Avg Acceptance Rate: 75.0%
Median Earnings (10yr): $36,968

Browse All Colleges

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Colleges in Mississippi

About Mississippi

Why Study in Mississippi?

How Mississippi Compares