Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mississippi State University #302 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,311, placing Mississippi State University in the 44.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Mississippi State University sits in the 49.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #773 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mississippi State University's composite standing reflects a consistent pattern of graduates outperforming earnings expectations relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The university's return on investment ranking anchors that story, supported by median 4-year earnings that place it well above the midpoint among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #302 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R1) in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University enrolls roughly 18,397 undergraduates. Retention stands at 82.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.7%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a broad-access public institution. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #773 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $59,311, and they earn about $1,983 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mississippi State University in the 49.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the institution's primary program concentration, and the breadth of degree offerings across business, engineering, and applied sciences contributes to outcomes that hold up well relative to comparable institutions. Access and affordability shape the rest of the composite. Mississippi State University admits about 77.6% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps enrollment open to a wide range of students — 29.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.9% are first-generation college students. The institution sits in the 62.6 percentile for affordability and the 80.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 88.0 percentile — a profile that reflects the university's role serving Mississippi's student population across a range of economic backgrounds.
Mississippi State University's published cost of attendance is $29,267. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $14,332, middle-income families pay around $18,671, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,987. Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #533 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 State participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The gap between sticker price and net price can differ substantially across income levels, reflecting how institutional aid reshapes affordability for different family situations. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,142, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,567; 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 $59,311, median federal debt of $22,142 projects to a monthly payment of about $250 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mississippi State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university in MS with solid long-term earnings and a broad, accessible campus environment. Graduates earn in the 44.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Mississippi State University earn about $1,983 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 49.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for students focused on post-graduation financial outcomes. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.9% are first-generation — and low-income graduates sit in the 51.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. That combination makes Mississippi State University a realistic and financially grounded option for cost-sensitive families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes; and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $22,142 against their expected earnings trajectory before enrolling.
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 Mississippi State University 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 State University's published cost of attendance is $29,267. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $14,332, middle-income families pay around $18,671, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,987.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #533 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 State participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The gap between sticker price and net price can differ substantially across income levels, reflecting how institutional aid reshapes affordability for different family situations.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,142, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,567; 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 $59,311, median federal debt of $22,142 projects to a monthly payment of about $250 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 State University earn median 4-year earnings of $59,311, placing Mississippi State University in the 44.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,983 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mississippi State University in the 49.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mississippi State University #773 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mississippi State University also sits in the 51.1 percentile for median low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at Mississippi State University is anchored by Business, which forms the largest share of degree output. Business Administration stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong median earnings.
Among the top programs by scale and earnings, Business Administration program graduates 359 students with median 4-year earnings of $55,993, and Azimuth ranks the program #233 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Teacher Education program graduates 263 students with median 4-year earnings of $40,431, with Azimuth ranking the program #219 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Kinesiology and Psychology, General round out the high-enrollment tier, with median 4-year earnings of $50,503 and $41,986 respectively. Business accounts for 20% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 16% and Education at 8%.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern Utah University Similar quality tier (#10790 ranked) | UT | 82% | $50,296 | #10790 | Compare |
Ohio University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#10792 ranked) | OH | 85% | $52,581 | #10792 | Compare |
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi Similar quality tier (#10793 ranked) | TX | 89% | $51,865 | #10793 | Compare |
Florida Gulf Coast University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10767 ranked) | FL | 63% | $54,560 | #10767 | Compare |
Alabama A & M University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10794 ranked) | AL | 58% | $40,628 | #10794 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
72 graduates
Chemical Engineering
73 graduates
Construction Management
32 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
165 graduates
Industrial Engineering
53 graduates
Mississippi State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful concentrations in engineering, agriculture, and computing — a portfolio shaped by the university's land-grant research identity and its deep ties to Mississippi's workforce economy. Business accounts for 20% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 16% and Education at 8%, reflecting a balanced mix of applied professional and technical fields.
Across 65 programs serving roughly 4,365 students annually, the university's degree output skews toward fields with direct workforce entry and stable hiring demand. Business Administration anchors the institution's strongest aggregate financial return, combining substantial cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings — the combination that drives the most economic value for graduates at the institutional level.
Among the most popular programs, Business Administration program graduates 359 students with median earnings of $55,993 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #233 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Teacher Education and Kinesiology follow as large-cohort programs, with 263 and 254 graduates respectively, delivering median four-year earnings of $40,431 and $50,503 — fields where employer demand in Mississippi and the broader Southeast remains consistent.
The highest-earning programs at Mississippi State University cluster in engineering and technical fields, where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes. Mechanical Engineering leads with median earnings of $93,893 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #89 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Accounting and Digital Marketing also post strong early-career figures — $70,904 and $61,364 respectively — reflecting the university's depth in applied technical disciplines. For context on how these fields align with national hiring trends, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
