Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Mississippi State University graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their careers, with income increasing consistently from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $43,487 six years after enrollment to $46,795 at eight years and $51,513 at ten years, representing 18.5% growth between the six-year and ten-year measurement points.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings fall below the peer average for similar institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,142 in debt with typical earnings.
Mississippi State University graduates carry median debt of $22,142, which compares favorably to debt levels at similar institutions. Debt ranges from $6,083 at the 25th percentile to $27,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating variation in borrowing patterns among students.
Mississippi State University demonstrates typical return on investment performance, ranking at the 42.7th percentile nationally with around the national average outcomes. While graduates earn $13,162 below expectations relative to similar students, placing the university at the 8.9th percentile for earnings beyond expectations, debt levels remain manageable at $22,142 compared to the peer median of $20,000.
Approximately 25.2% of Mississippi State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence. Th...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering programs drive Mississippi State's strongest return outcomes, with Chemical Engineering graduates earning $91,204 and Mechanical Engineering producing $86,449 annually. These technical fields significantly exceed the institutional median and demonstrate the university's strength in STEM preparation.
Business programs show moderate returns, with Accounting at $63,287 and general Business Administration at $47,624, serving the largest student populations. Agricultural Animal Breeding showcases specialized excellence with strong earnings of $48,123 and exceptional value propositions.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution at Mississippi State shows meaningful variation across career outcomes, with the gap between the 25th percentile ($33,648) and 75th percentile ($77,474) representing a 2.3:1 ratio. Low-income graduates earn $42,800, ranking in the top 50 nationally for this outcome measure.
