2026 Best Graduate Schools in Mississippi
With all of the graduate school options in Mississippi, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights 46 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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.
Customizing Your List
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Top 25 Graduate Schools in Mississippi
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Mississippi. Set in University, MS, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. 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. Based in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Mississippi State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $47,383. The median student debt is $23,969.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern Mississippi one of the top graduate schools in Mississippi. Based in Hattiesburg, MS, University Of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. University Of Southern Mississippi posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $9,998 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,338. The median student debt is $25,415.
Out of the 46 graduate schools in Mississippi in this year's ranking, Mississippi University For Women landed the #4 spot. Based in Columbus, MS, Mississippi University For Women is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,492. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,756. Graduates carry a median of $24,509 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes Mississippi College one of the top graduate schools in Mississippi. Based in Clinton, MS, Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,500. Median early-career earnings reach $47,611. Students borrow a median of $25,510 to complete a degree here.
William Carey University did well this year, earning the #6 position. William Carey University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hattiesburg, MS. William Carey University graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Median early-career earnings reach $46,292. William Carey University students take on a median of $25,079 in debt.
Millsaps College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jackson, MS. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,680. Millsaps College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,765. The median student debt is $27,000.
Delta State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Cleveland, MS. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Students from in state pay about $8,605 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,580. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Mississippi Community College landed the #9 spot in Mississippi this year. This public school is set in Senatobia, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,740. Median early-career earnings reach $35,001. The median student debt is $9,990.
Holmes Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Goodman, MS, Holmes Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,145. Holmes Community College students take on a median of $13,191 in debt.
Hinds Community College landed the #11 spot in Mississippi this year. Set in Raymond, MS, Hinds Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Hinds Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,003. Graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans.
Meridian Community College landed the #12 spot in Mississippi this year. Meridian Community College is a public school based in Meridian, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,078, compared with $6,478 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $34,846. The median student debt is $10,368.
Itawamba Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Fulton, MS, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Itawamba Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,832. Typical student debt is $10,942.
Belhaven University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Mississippi. Located in Jackson, MS, Belhaven University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,250. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,485. Typical student debt is $34,181.
Northeast Mississippi Community College landed the #15 spot in Mississippi this year. Based in Booneville, MS, Northeast Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $7,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,228. Students borrow a median of $12,566 to complete a degree here.
Copiah Lincoln Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Wesson, MS, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Perkinston, MS. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $34,214. Typical student debt is $11,653.
Pearl River Community College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Mississippi. Set in Poplarville, MS, Pearl River Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,700, compared with $6,100 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,785. Typical student debt is $13,482.
East Central Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Decatur, MS, East Central Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,090 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,981 early in their careers. East Central Community College students take on a median of $6,382 in debt.
Blue Mountain College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Blue Mountain, MS, Blue Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $20,180 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $36,823. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete a degree here.
East Mississippi Community College landed the #21 spot in Mississippi this year. This public school is set in Scooba, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,095, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,012. Typical student debt is $9,422.
Alcorn State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Alcorn State University is a public school based in Alcorn State, MS. Alcorn State University graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,785. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,028. The median student debt is $29,674.
Jones County Junior College did well this year, earning the #23 position. This public school is set in Ellisville, MS. In-state tuition and fees average $4,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,655 early in their careers. Jones County Junior College students take on a median of $9,559 in debt.
Southwest Mississippi Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Summit, MS, Southwest Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,080 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,292 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,057 to complete a degree here.
Jackson State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Jackson State University is a public school based in Jackson, MS. About 51% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,965 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,965. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,593 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $32,944 in student loans.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Graduate Schools in Mississippi
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
All Majors and Fields of Study >
More Mississippi Rankings
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
