Mississippi College's nursing program stands out as a clear strength, graduating substantial numbers of students into well-paying healthcare careers that provide financial stability.
The college combines Christian values with professional preparation, maintaining strong loan repayment outcomes that demonstrate graduates can successfully manage their educational investments.
Mississippi College is a private nonprofit institution in Clinton, Mississippi, that combines Christian values with professional preparation across a range of fields. As a medium-sized college, it offers the personal attention of a smaller institution while maintaining comprehensive academic programs. The college serves a moderately diverse student body, with about 26% of students receiving Pell Grants and roughly 26% being first-generation college students, reflecting its commitment to accessibility within the private college sector.
The institution's strongest outcomes emerge in nursing and healthcare fields, where graduates achieve solid earnings and career stability. While overall earnings performance sits near national averages, with graduates earning a median of $47,485 ten years after enrollment, the college's nursing program stands out as a particular strength, producing 137 graduates annually who earn around $52,107 in their early careers.
Mississippi College operates as what mobility researchers call an "Opportunity Builder" — an institution that provides meaningful access to students from various backgrounds while working to improve outcomes. The college's combination of Christian mission, professional programs, and moderate affordability makes it a distinctive option for students seeking both spiritual and academic development in the Southeast.
Mississippi College's program portfolio reflects its mission as a comprehensive Christian institution with particular strength in professional fields. Nursing dominates both enrollment and outcomes, with 137 graduates annually earning around $52,107 in early career positions, making it the college's clear economic engine. This program combines substantial scale with strong financial returns, reflecting both regional healthcare demand and the college's established reputation in nursing education.
Biology represents the college's largest non-nursing program with 65 graduates, though early earnings around $20,140 reflect the field's typical trajectory toward graduate school or entry-level research positions. Accounting Technology, while smaller with 25 graduates, produces solid early earnings around $44,356, demonstrating the college's ability to prepare students for stable business careers. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with 62 graduates earning about $29,322, reflects the college's commitment to health and wellness fields, though financial returns are more modest.
The pattern across programs suggests that Mississippi College performs best when preparing students for specific professional roles, particularly in healthcare and business. Students choosing more foundational or academic fields may need additional education or career development to reach peak earning potential, while those in professional programs like nursing see more immediate financial returns.
Graduates of Mississippi College earn a median of $47,485 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution near national averages for long-term financial outcomes. While overall earnings performance is moderate, the college shows significant variation by field of study, with some programs delivering much stronger financial returns than others. The institution's return on investment reflects its focus on professional preparation rather than purely academic pursuits.
Nursing represents Mississippi College's strongest economic engine, combining high enrollment with solid earnings outcomes. The Adult Health Nursing program graduates 137 students annually who earn around $52,107 early in their careers, making it both the largest and highest-return program at the college. Biology, while popular with 65 graduates, shows more modest early earnings around $20,140, reflecting the field's typical trajectory toward graduate school or entry-level positions. Accounting Technology graduates earn about $44,356, demonstrating the college's ability to prepare students for stable business careers.
The college's professional focus helps explain why certain programs perform well financially while others show more moderate returns. Students in healthcare and business fields generally see stronger immediate earnings, while those in foundational sciences or liberal arts may need additional education or time to reach peak earning potential. This pattern suggests that program choice significantly influences financial outcomes at Mississippi College.
Mississippi College maintains moderate affordability for a private institution, with net prices that vary modestly across income levels. Low-income students pay about $18,767 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $22,204, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,565. These prices reflect the college's effort to provide need-based aid while maintaining its private college positioning, though costs remain higher than typical public alternatives in Mississippi.
Debt levels at Mississippi College are manageable for most graduates, with typical federal student loan debt around $22,500 and Parent PLUS borrowing averaging $14,535. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully. Loan repayment patterns show steady progress, with borrowers making consistent headway on balance reduction over the first several years after graduation, suggesting that earnings levels support debt service for most students.
The combination of moderate debt levels and the college's focus on professional programs helps create sustainable financial outcomes for graduates. While the upfront costs are higher than public alternatives, the college's emphasis on career-oriented fields like nursing and business helps ensure that graduates can service their educational investments over time.
Mississippi College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
