Best Colleges in Mississippi 2026

Mississippi has 36 colleges and universities in our database; 32 report the graduation-rate data our ranking requires. The top 25 are ranked below by a fixed four-factor formula: 6-year graduation rate (30%), median earnings 10 years after entry (30%), admission selectivity (20%), and in-state tuition affordability (20%).

Schools Ranked

$36,659

Avg. Earnings

47.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Southeastern Baptist College Laurel, Mississippi	100.0%	$26,946		$5,925
2	Mississippi College Clinton, Mississippi	62.8%	$47,485	40.0%	$21,698
3	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, Mississippi	62.9%	$51,513	75.2%	$9,815
4	Alcorn State University Alcorn State, Mississippi	46.2%	$36,421	29.9%	$8,549
5	Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson, Mississippi	51.6%	$31,241		$4,000
6	University of Mississippi University, Mississippi	68.5%	$50,994	97.4%	$9,412
7	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, Mississippi	47.4%	$33,017		$3,950
8	Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, Mississippi	42.3%	$36,396		$3,660
9	Holmes Community College Goodman, Mississippi	45.4%	$32,922		$3,510
10	Itawamba Community College Fulton, Mississippi	45.3%	$32,912		$3,420
11	East Mississippi Community College Scooba, Mississippi	41.8%	$33,772		$3,950
12	Meridian Community College Meridian, Mississippi	44.2%	$31,002		$3,932
13	Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi	51.1%	$46,440	42.6%	$29,195
14	Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit, Mississippi	40.2%	$33,227		$3,960
15	Hinds Community College Raymond, Mississippi	42.1%	$30,774		$3,825
16	East Central Community College Decatur, Mississippi	39.3%	$32,421		$3,865
17	William Carey University Hattiesburg, Mississippi	40.8%	$43,087	53.6%	$14,685
18	Jones County Junior College Ellisville, Mississippi	35.9%	$33,377		$4,000
19	Pearl River Community College Poplarville, Mississippi	35.3%	$33,019		$3,650
20	Northeast Mississippi Community College Booneville, Mississippi	35.4%	$34,081		$4,770
21	Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, Mississippi	38.2%	$24,289		$3,490
22	Tougaloo College Tougaloo, Mississippi	32.3%	$34,724	49.3%	$11,398
23	Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead, Mississippi	29.9%	$28,421		$3,540
24	University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Mississippi	50.6%	$44,140	98.8%	$9,618
25	Millsaps College Jackson, Mississippi	55.5%	$53,848	67.8%	$43,815