Why This Matters
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18 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN MISSISSIPPI
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Mississippi include 9 public and 9 private non-profit options.
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$9,100 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Mississippi is $9,100, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Mississippi. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by either the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) or Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). These organizations examine the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in Mississippi
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Mississippi
As a prospective college student, you can expand your career opportunities by exploring the top industries in Mississippi. The five largest industries in the state as of May 2022 are office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, production, sales, and food preparation and serving.
When looking at potential careers and degree programs, it’s also important to consider the fastest-growing occupations in Mississippi for workers with a bachelor’s degree. These include microbiologists, petroleum engineers, clergy, operations research analysts, and fundraisers.
It’s important to look at the largest employers in Mississippi as well. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is the largest employer with more than 10,000 employees. Other top employers in the state include Nissan, Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Mississippi State University, and TempStaff.
What’s Next?
There are many options available for funding your college education. With the help of the following resources, you’ll be able to find a variety of financial aid opportunities for undergraduate students in the state of Mississippi:
- Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. This agency administers several grant and scholarship programs for Mississippi college students.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.