by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Mississippi Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 26 schools in Mississippi, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Mississippi State University the best school in Mississippi in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, the large public school handed out 5,684 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,141 during the early years of their career..
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Mississippi helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Mississippi. Ole Miss is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,172 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss make an average of $48,255 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Carey University. The school came in at #3 in Mississippi on this year’s overall quality ranking.Hattiesburg, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,344 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from William Carey University is $35,997 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mississippi College. The school came in at #4 in Mississippi on this year’s overall quality ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Clinton, Mississippi, and it awarded 1,455 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MC make an average of $45,183 per year during the early years of their career.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Southern Mississippi helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Mississippi. University of Southern Mississippi is a fairly large public school located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi that handed out 3,570 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Southern Miss make an average of $40,541 a year.
Mississippi University for Women landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Located in Columbus, Mississippi, the small public school awarded 994 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from MUW is $35,642 during the early years of their career.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #7.Perkinston, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,679 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College make an average of $30,960 a year.
With a ranking of #8, Holmes Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi list. Holmes Community College is a small public school situated in Goodman, Mississippi. It awarded 1,514 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Holmes Community College make an average of $29,127 a year.
With a ranking of #9, Belhaven University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Jackson, Mississippi, and it awarded 1,741 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Belhaven make an average of $41,762 per year during the early years of their career.
Delta State University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Delta State University is a small public school located in Cleveland, Mississippi that handed out 939 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University is $37,214 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Jackson State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi list. Jackson State is located in Jackson, Mississippi and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,487 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State go into careers with an average salary of $34,946 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Mississippi Delta Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi list. Mississippi Delta Community College is a public institution located in Moorhead, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 494 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Delta Community College go into careers with an average salary of $26,453 during the early years of their career.
Hinds Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Hinds Community College is a public institution located in Raymond, Mississippi. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,034 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Hinds Community College is $29,221 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Southwest Mississippi Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi list. Southwest Mississippi Community College is a small public school located in Summit, Mississippi that handed out 561 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from SMCC make an average of $28,427 per year during the early years of their career.
Itawamba Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list. ICC is a public institution located in Fulton, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from ICC go into careers with an average salary of $31,463 during the early years of their career.
Pearl River Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Pearl River Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Poplarville, Mississippi that handed out 1,294 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Pearl River Community College make an average of $30,261 per year during the early years of their career.
Meridian Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. MCC is located in Meridian, Mississippi and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 763 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $28,007 during the early years of their career..
East Mississippi Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. EMCC is a public institution located in Scooba, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,060 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from EMCC make an average of $30,106 per year during the early years of their career.
Northwest Mississippi Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. NWCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Senatobia, Mississippi. It awarded 1,744 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NWCC is $32,696 during the early years of their career.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Located in Wesson, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 701 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Copiah-Lincoln Community College make an average of $29,064 a year.
Alcorn State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Located in Alcorn State, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 693 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State make an average of $33,444 per year during the early years of their career.
Northeast Mississippi Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.Booneville, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 738 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,253 during the early years of their career..
Jones County Junior College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.Ellisville, Mississippi is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,238 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,773 during the early years of their career..
East Central Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Decatur, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 563 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from East Central Community College make an average of $31,704 a year.
Coahoma Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking. Coahoma Community College is located in Clarksdale, Mississippi and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 416 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Coahoma Community College make an average of $23,108 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
