Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mississippi College #972 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,069 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mississippi College in the 36.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #990 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #972 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private doctoral/professional university in Clinton, Mississippi, Mississippi College enrolls roughly 2,518 undergraduates. Retention is 77.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 59.3%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Mississippi College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #990 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,069 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mississippi College in the 36.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in health professions and related fields, where employers actively recruit and starting salaries are competitive. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Mississippi College sits in the 79.1 percentile for access and the 30.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a private-institution cost structure and a student population that skews toward higher-income families. Mobility outcomes, measured by how well low-income and first-generation graduates advance economically, place the institution in the 10.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families seeking a private institution with strong career outcomes in health and professional fields, Mississippi College offers a focused, outcomes-oriented alternative to larger research universities.
Mississippi College's published cost of attendance is $41,214. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $25,984, middle-income families pay around $27,601, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,757. Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #989 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. Mississippi College structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution works to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of institutional scholarships, federal aid, and student borrowing. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: understanding the difference between published cost and net price is essential when evaluating long-term financial outcomes. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,510; 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 $55,434, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mississippi College is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in MS and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #969 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,434, placing Mississippi College in the 30.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,069 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 36.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $41,214. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $25,984, middle-income families pay around $27,601, higher-income families pay approximately $29,757. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Mississippi College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Mississippi College's published cost of attendance is $41,214. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $25,984, middle-income families pay around $27,601, and higher-income families pay approximately $29,757.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #989 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.
Mississippi College structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the institution works to bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of institutional scholarships, federal aid, and student borrowing.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: understanding the difference between published cost and net price is essential when evaluating long-term financial outcomes. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,510; 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 $55,434, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 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 Mississippi College earn median 4-year earnings of $55,434, placing Mississippi College in the 30.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,069 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mississippi College in the 36.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi College #990 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mississippi College's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 123 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $77,374, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 67 students with median 4-year earnings of $48,861, while Biology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $49,370 across 60 graduates.
These programs anchor the institution's outcomes in fields where employer demand remains steady and career pathways lead to stable, middle-class earnings trajectories.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Southern Mississippi Higher acceptance rate (50.5 percentage points higher) and located 91 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 99% | $44,140 | Compare |
Mississippi University For Women Higher acceptance rate (51.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MS | 100% | $46,128 | Compare |
Barton College Higher acceptance rate (47 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 96% | $47,913 | Compare |
William Carey University Same state (94 miles away) with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | MS | 58% | $43,087 | Compare |
Belhaven University Same state (9 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | MS | 53% | $46,440 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kalamazoo College Similar quality tier (#28245 ranked) | MI | 75% | $65,590 | #28245 | Compare |
Wheaton College Similar quality tier (#28246 ranked) | IL | 87% | $63,756 | #28246 | Compare |
Occidental College Similar quality tier (#28250 ranked) | CA | 44% | $75,951 | #28250 | Compare |
Averett University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28238 ranked) | VA | 57% | $51,516 | #28238 | Compare |
Butler University Similar quality tier (#28237 ranked) | IN | 85% | $77,235 | #28237 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
123 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
21 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
30 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
26 graduates
Social Work
11 graduates
Mississippi College's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied sciences, reflecting the institution's mission as a private nonprofit college serving Mississippi and the broader region. Nursing is the largest program with 123 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Biology, General, Teacher Education, and Psychology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 596 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in health and professional fields where demand remains steady and career pathways are well-defined. The highest-earning programs at Mississippi College lead with solid four-year outcomes.
Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $77,374 four years after enrollment, followed by Accounting at $63,885, Criminal Justice at $55,832, and Business Administration at $52,789. These programs reflect the institution's positioning in health sciences and professional preparation, where graduates move directly into the workforce in roles with established compensation structures and employer demand.
Several of these programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly and earnings reflect real workforce outcomes. The concentration in Health fields aligns with the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/), where healthcare and related professions continue to show sustained hiring and wage growth.
For students seeking a regionally anchored private institution with clear pathways into stable, in-demand fields, Mississippi College's program portfolio delivers predictable career outcomes grounded in professional preparation.
