by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Mississippi, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **24** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 24 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of Mississippi Main Campus, our #1 college in Mississippi. Based in University, MS, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,876. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Mississippi State University earned it the #2 place in Mississippi. Mississippi State University is a public school based in Mississippi State, MS. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,383. Students borrow a median of $23,969 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern Mississippi one of the top colleges in Mississippi. University Of Southern Mississippi is a public school based in Hattiesburg, MS. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans.
A rank of #4 makes Mississippi University For Women one of the top colleges in Mississippi. Based in Columbus, MS, Mississippi University For Women is a public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,492. Median early-career earnings reach $42,756. Graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes Mississippi College one of the top colleges in Mississippi. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clinton, MS. About 59% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,611 early in their careers. Mississippi College students take on a median of $25,510 in debt.
William Carey University placed #6 among the best colleges in Mississippi. Set in Hattiesburg, MS, William Carey University is a private not-for-profit institution. William Carey University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,480. Median early-career earnings reach $46,292. Students borrow a median of $25,079 to complete a degree here.
Millsaps College landed the #7 spot in Mississippi this year. Set in Jackson, MS, Millsaps College is a private not-for-profit institution. Millsaps College posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,680. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,765. The median student debt is $27,000.
Delta State University landed the #8 spot in Mississippi this year. Located in Cleveland, MS, Delta State University is a public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,605. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,580. Typical student debt is $23,432.
Northwest Mississippi Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Senatobia, MS, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,740. Median early-career earnings reach $35,001. Students borrow a median of $9,990 to complete a degree here.
Holmes Community College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Goodman, MS, Holmes Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,710, compared with $6,610 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,145. The median student debt is $13,191.
Hinds Community College landed the #11 spot in Mississippi this year. Hinds Community College is a public school based in Raymond, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,003. Graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans.
Meridian Community College placed #12 among the best colleges in Mississippi. This public school is set in Meridian, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,078 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,478 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $34,846. Students borrow a median of $10,368 to complete a degree here.
Itawamba Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Fulton, MS, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Itawamba Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,832. Graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans.
Belhaven University placed #14 among the best colleges in Mississippi. Set in Jackson, MS, Belhaven University is a private not-for-profit institution. Belhaven University graduates 48% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,250. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,485. Students borrow a median of $34,181 to complete a degree here.
Northeast Mississippi Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Northeast Mississippi Community College is a public school based in Booneville, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,470, with out-of-state students paying around $7,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,228. Northeast Mississippi Community College students take on a median of $12,566 in debt.
Copiah Lincoln Community College landed the #16 spot in Mississippi this year. This public school is set in Wesson, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,200, compared with $5,200 for out-of-state students.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #17 among the best colleges in Mississippi. This public school is set in Perkinston, MS. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $34,214. Graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans.
Pearl River Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Pearl River Community College is a public school based in Poplarville, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,700, compared with $6,100 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,785 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,482 to complete a degree here.
East Central Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. East Central Community College is a public school based in Decatur, MS. Students from in state pay about $3,990 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,090. Median early-career earnings reach $32,981. Typical student debt is $6,382.
Blue Mountain College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Blue Mountain, MS, Blue Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. Blue Mountain College graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,180. Median early-career earnings reach $36,823. Blue Mountain College students take on a median of $22,542 in debt.
East Mississippi Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Located in Scooba, MS, East Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,012 early in their careers. The median student debt is $9,422.
Alcorn State University placed #22 among the best colleges in Mississippi. Set in Alcorn State, MS, Alcorn State University is a public institution. Alcorn State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,785 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $37,028. Typical student debt is $29,674.
Jones County Junior College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Ellisville, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $33,655. The median student debt is $9,559.
Southwest Mississippi Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Summit, MS, Southwest Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,080, while out-of-state students pay about $6,780. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,292. Students borrow a median of $21,057 to complete a degree here.
Jackson State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Jackson, MS, Jackson State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,965, while out-of-state students pay about $11,965. Median early-career earnings reach $38,593. Graduates carry a median of $32,944 in student loans.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.