Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Delta State University #1062 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Delta State University sits in the 49.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Delta State University #1401 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting its strength in supporting students from diverse backgrounds toward degree completion and career readiness. --- Delta State University's composite ranking reflects a balance of access and mobility working together to serve Mississippi students. Graduates earn about $2,009 less than similar students at comparable institutions, with particular strength in education fields that anchor the regional workforce.
Azimuth ranks Delta State University #1062 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Cleveland, Mississippi, Delta State University enrolls roughly 1,620 undergraduates. Retention stands at 66.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.1%, reflecting the institution's role as a regional access point for students seeking affordable pathways to degree completion. Delta State University serves a student population with significant financial need: 41.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.3% are first-generation college students. The institution's program portfolio centers on Education, which aligns with regional workforce demand in Mississippi and surrounding states. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,248, and earn about $2,009 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Delta State University in the 49.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Delta State University #1176 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students prioritizing affordability and accessible admission, Delta State University delivers measurable long-term financial outcomes relative to the no-degree baseline and comparable regional institutions. The institution sits in the 5.3 percentile for mobility and the 33.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, underscoring its mission as a broad-access regional university that converts enrollment into stable career pathways for low-income and first-generation students.
Delta State University's published cost of attendance is $22,445. Net price by income band reflects the university's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $12,223, middle-income families pay around $10,625, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,950. Azimuth ranks Delta State University #211 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Delta State participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price reflects how institutional aid reshapes the sticker price across income levels — a pattern that shapes the real affordability picture for families comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,390, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,568; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,248, median federal debt of $20,390 projects to a monthly payment of about $230 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Delta State University is a strong fit for students interested in education and related fields who want a public university experience in MS, particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds seeking an accessible pathway to stable careers. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,248, placing Delta State University in the 8.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures track MS's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $29,193. The institution serves a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 41.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.3% are first-generation — with a completion rate of 20.4% for Pell recipients. Published cost of attendance is $16,950, with need-based aid available to close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on alignment with Education programs, which account for 25% of degrees. Students whose career goals match this focus will find the strongest outcomes at this regional public institution.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Delta State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
46 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
16 graduates
Social Work
20 graduates
Biology, General
41 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
20 graduates
Delta State University's program mix is anchored in education, health professions, and business fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's regional mission and workforce needs. Subject-Specific Teacher Education is the largest program with 78 graduates, followed by Nursing, Teacher Education, Biology, General, and Psychology, General.
Across 22 programs serving roughly 454 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The earnings pattern reflects Delta State's strength in applied professional fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $76,031 four years after enrollment, followed by Social Work at $47,196, Biology, General at $46,266, and Business/Commerce, General at $45,058. These outcomes correspond to the institution's concentration in Education, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and aligns with stable, in-demand regional career pathways in education, nursing, and business administration.
Several of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter employment immediately and earnings reflect labor-market outcomes—particularly in nursing, business, and accounting fields. Education-focused programs, by contrast, represent grad-school-dependent and credential-advancement pathways where four-year earnings reflect early-career teaching salaries and do not capture the full trajectory of educators who pursue advanced degrees or administrative certification.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Delta State's dominant program families align with regional labor-market demand and long-term workforce trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Delta State University's published cost of attendance is $22,445. Net price by income band reflects the university's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $12,223, middle-income families pay around $10,625, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,950.
Azimuth ranks Delta State University #211 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Delta State participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price reflects how institutional aid reshapes the sticker price across income levels — a pattern that [shapes the real affordability picture](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for families comparing institutions.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,390, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,568; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,248, median federal debt of $20,390 projects to a monthly payment of about $230 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Delta State University earn median 4-year earnings of $47,248, placing Delta State University in the 8.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs below the $52,536 median at comparable institutions.
Graduates earn about $2,009 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Delta State University in the 49.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to MS's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $29,193 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
Azimuth ranks Delta State University #1176 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Delta State's concentration in education and applied professional fields.
Subject-Specific Teacher Education is the largest program with 78 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,300, performing at 0.8× the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 46 students earning $76,031, and the The Teacher Education program graduates 42 students earning $41,177.
Biology, General and Psychology, General round out the top five, with 41 and 25 graduates respectively. The Education focus — representing the institution's primary degree concentration — aligns with regional labor-market demand in Mississippi and the broader South, where education, healthcare, and public-service careers anchor stable employment pathways.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts Similar quality tier (#30576 ranked) | MA | 90% | $48,102 | #30576 | Compare |
Central State University Similar quality tier (#30592 ranked) | OH | 99% | $33,267 | #30592 | Compare |
Southwest Minnesota State University Similar quality tier (#30538 ranked) | MN | 62% | $51,342 | #30538 | Compare |
Southern University At New Orleans Similar quality tier (#30536 ranked) | LA | 79% | $34,042 | #30536 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina-Lancaster Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30522 ranked) | SC | 83% | $39,426 | #30522 | Compare |
