Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Tougaloo College #1133 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tougaloo College in the 29.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #1388 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Tougaloo College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions, with particularly notable performance in mobility and earnings beyond expectations. The institution's social sciences focus contributes to these outcomes while serving a diverse student population.
Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #1133 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.6 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Tougaloo, Mississippi, Tougaloo College enrolls roughly 639 undergraduates. The institution serves a predominantly low-income and first-generation student body, with 62.7% receiving Pell Grants and 29.8% identifying as first-generation college students. Six-year graduation rate stands at 33.1%, reflecting the academic support and persistence required of students navigating the transition to higher education. What anchors Tougaloo College's composite is mobility outcomes. Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #1329 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 10.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $42,641, placing Tougaloo College in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tougaloo College in the 29.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is particularly meaningful given the institution's student composition: Tougaloo College moves low-income and first-generation graduates into careers and earnings trajectories that exceed what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. Tougaloo College sits in the 6.1 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, underscoring its role as a pathway institution for students from underrepresented backgrounds. The college's Social Sciences-focused curriculum aligns with stable, accessible career pathways. For families seeking an affordable, mission-driven education with demonstrated outcomes for low-income and first-generation students, Tougaloo College represents a rare combination of broad access, strong graduation support, and earnings that validate the long-term financial return of enrollment.
Tougaloo College's published cost of attendance is $24,239. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,294, middle-income families pay around $17,744, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,266. Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #764 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. Tougaloo College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students. The college applies for demonstrated financial need using the FAFSA. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,046, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,175; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,641, median federal debt of $30,046 projects to a monthly payment of about $339 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Tougaloo College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences and humanities who want a private liberal arts college experience in Tougaloo, MS. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $42,641, placing Tougaloo College in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $7,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tougaloo College in the 29.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 62.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.8% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Tougaloo College in the 5.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $16,266, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $30,046 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 59.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
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
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This is the Tougaloo College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Sociology
6 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
11 graduates
Tougaloo College's program mix concentrates in Social Sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and mission-driven focus on preparing students for careers in education, social services, and community engagement. The largest programs by enrollment are Psychology, General with 23 graduates, Biology, General with 19 graduates, Economics with 12 graduates, Kinesiology with 11 graduates, and Teacher Education with 10 graduates.
Across 8 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 97 students annually. The institution's highest-aggregate-return program is Sociology, which combines meaningful enrollment scale with solid earnings outcomes.
Sociology represents the strongest earnings performance at the institution, with graduates earning median four-year earnings of $42,121. This concentration of outcomes in Social Sciences aligns with Tougaloo College's positioning as a historically Black college with deep roots in teacher preparation, social work, and public service fields where graduates often prioritize mission-driven work over maximum earnings.
The program portfolio reflects a deliberate institutional focus on fields that serve underserved communities. Many of Tougaloo College's largest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways — particularly in Social Sciences — where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate school or professional programs.
For students prioritizing direct-to-workforce entry and immediate earnings growth, the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Tougaloo College's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand and wage trends in education, social services, and nonprofit sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Tougaloo College's published cost of attendance is $24,239. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,294, middle-income families pay around $17,744, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,266.
Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #764 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.
Tougaloo College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and offers institutional aid to qualifying students. The college applies for demonstrated financial need using the FAFSA.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,046, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,175; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,641, median federal debt of $30,046 projects to a monthly payment of about $339 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 Tougaloo College earn median 4-year earnings of $42,641, placing the institution in the 2.1st percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tougaloo College in the 29.2nd percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Tougaloo College #1329 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 10.2nd percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to Mississippi's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $29,193, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern reflects Tougaloo College's focus on Social Sciences, which represents 24% of graduates. Education accounts for 9% of degrees, and Arts represents 3%. Sociology is the largest program with 23 graduates, followed by Biology, General (19 graduates) and Economics (12 graduates). This program mix supports earnings that align with Mississippi's regional labor market.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jackson State University Higher acceptance rate (37.8 percentage points higher) and located 8 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 91% | $39,060 | Compare |
Le Moyne-Owen College Higher acceptance rate (44 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | TN | 97% | $35,594 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Higher acceptance rate (39.3 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | PR | 92% | $34,409 | Compare |
Alcorn State University Same state (68 miles away) with nearly identical earnings | MS | 25% | $36,421 | Compare |
Mississippi Valley State University Same state (77 miles away) with similar earnings | MS | 51% | $31,919 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carson-Newman University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#31151 ranked) | TN | 90% | $48,382 | #31151 | Compare |
Spring Arbor University Similar quality tier (#31154 ranked) | MI | 52% | $51,732 | #31154 | Compare |
Franklin Pierce University Similar quality tier (#30629 ranked) | NH | 93% | $53,353 | #30629 | Compare |
Eureka College Similar quality tier (#30628 ranked) | IL | 85% | $51,641 | #30628 | Compare |
Allen University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#31670 ranked) | SC | 73% | $30,497 | #31670 | Compare |
