by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 44 schools for veteran and military-affiliated students in Mississippi, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed 44 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal fit depends on your goals and benefits. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
Mississippi Valley State University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Mississippi. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Mississippi State University earned the #2 place in Mississippi. It scores 80.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Southern Mississippi earned the #3 place in Mississippi. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 79.5 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at University of Mississippi, which ranked #4 this year. The school's overall veterans score is 70.9 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Jackson State University, which ranked #5 this year. The school's overall veterans score is 70.7 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Hinds Community College placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Mississippi. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 70.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 69.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Tougaloo College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 68.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Mississippi College earned the #9 position in Mississippi. It scores 67.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Strayer University-Mississippi placed #10 among the best colleges for veterans in Mississippi. The school's overall veterans score is 66.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Mississippi University for Women came in at #11 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 66.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Alcorn State University placed #12 among the best colleges for veterans in Mississippi. It scores 66.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
William Carey University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. William Carey University scores 65.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. It scores 64.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Pearl River Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 64.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Delta State University landed the #16 spot in Mississippi this year. Delta State University scores 63.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Southwest Mississippi Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Southwest Mississippi Community College scores 63.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Delta Technical College earned the #18 position in Mississippi. Delta Technical College scores 63.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Southeastern Baptist College landed the #19 spot in Mississippi this year. Southeastern Baptist College scores 63.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Rust College placed #20 among the best colleges for veterans in Mississippi. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 61.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Belhaven University earned the #21 position in Mississippi. It scores 61.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 92.9, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Holmes Community College landed the #22 spot in Mississippi this year. It scores 61.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Mississippi Delta Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 60.3 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
East Mississippi Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. East Mississippi Community College scores 60.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Meridian Community College placed #25 among the best colleges for veterans in Mississippi. Meridian Community College scores 60.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
