2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Mississippi

[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Mississippi
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #1 spot for value among public health schools in Mississippi. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $22,444. Early-career public health graduates make about $50,876. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Mississippi University For Women is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,492. Public Health graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $30,813. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Mississippi earned it the #4 place for public health. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Students borrow a median of $28,375 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $40,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Jackson State University, which ranked #5. Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,965, with out-of-state students paying around $11,965. Public Health graduates carry a median of $32,944 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Jackson State University earn a median of $43,146 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,944 median debt. Jackson State University admits about 93% of applicants.
Mississippi College earned the #6 position for value in public health this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,500. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,510 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $47,611. Set against $25,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.