Best Community Colleges in Mississippi

What’s the biggest perk of a community college over a four-year university? For many, it’s affordability. Mississippi community colleges can offer that. No-cost tuition is available for some in-state students.

Some other advantages about community colleges? Smaller class sizes and a wide variety of courses.

Mississippi also boasts some of the top online community colleges in the nation.

There are all kinds of educational opportunities in Mississippi. One path allows students to start at a community college and then finish their studies at one of the state’s well-known four-year schools.

“There’s no doubt that the data for decades talks about that if you graduate from a community college in Mississippi that you will perform better in years three and four academically when you go to university,” said Meridian Community College President Dr. Thomas Huebner in an interview with WTOK TV.

Like every other state, Mississippi is working to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 2022, the state is projected to see steady, slow economic growth. The job outlook follows a similar pattern. Some professions like healthcare and various technology fields are growing faster than others.

While Mississippi’s economy isn’t “booming,” the relative stability has helped the state overcome some economic ups and downs.

According to the World Population Review, the cost of living in Mississippi was the lowest in the nation in 2021. Certainly, a contributor to this low cost of living is having the lowest housing costs in the country as well, with an average home price of $128,000.

Groceries and utilities cost less than in other areas of the country, along with transportation and gas prices.

Mississippi has plenty of cultural and community offerings. And they vary across the state.

Cities like Natchez have thriving tourism economies. Towns along the coast tend to be more relaxed.

The music scene in Mississippi can be incredible. It’s the birthplace of the Delta blues. Gospel and rock also have a strong presence in the state.

Larger cities like Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi feature a rich nightlife with many restaurants and other venues that offer fine Southern dining and great entertainment.

If you prefer warmer weather over colder temperatures, Mississippi may be the right fit for you. Wintry weather rarely shows up in the state. Summers can be hot, and humid. High humidity is common throughout the summer months, and rainfall is pretty evenly distributed year-round.

However, Mississippi rarely has an “average” year.

Some years contain flooding and storms, and others are marked by drought. Locals call it “feast or famine” when it comes to weather. The year will either be calm or filled with weather events, with little in between.

Mississippi’s employment outlook overall is stable, but there are growing industries and careers. Average job growth is expected to remain between 1-2% overall. This is due to the declining number of jobs in the mining and logging industries and increases in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and information technology occupations.

Employment in government jobs saw declines, but education and health services fields have added jobs slightly faster than other sectors.

Job Outlook: The demand for physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 32% nationwide from 2020-2030. This is one of the jobs most in demand in Mississippi as well. It indicates the state is making strides in adding healthcare professionals to its workforce.

Description: Supervised by physical therapists, these assistants help patients regain movement and strength after illness, injury, or disease.

Description: The home health aide or caregiver helps those with severe illness, dementia, or injury to manage everyday activities. They also monitor the health of these patients, assist them with nutrition and mobility, and more.

This career is often a gateway to other opportunities in the medical field. Those with some college or trade school education and on-the-job training may pursue these jobs. However, those with an associate degree in a healthcare-related field generally earn more.

Description: A computer programmer writes code or other computer languages that enable computer or phone applications and software to operate correctly. They’ll usually work in offices or even remotely. Software developers design computer applications and programs.

You can pursue a job as a computer programmer or software developer with an associate of sciences in software development. However, many employers will want additional on-the-job training or a bachelor’s degree if you want to move ahead in your career.

Description: Plastics technicians set up, operate, and monitor the machines that shape, mold, and cut plastics, often as a part of a more extensive manufacturing process. Most of the time they work in plants or factories. The most common degree is an associate of science in manufacturing or, in some cases, process management.

Description: The duties of the industrial mechanic involve installation, maintenance, and repair of factory machinery and other industrial machines in a variety of industries. The most common associate degree in the field is in mechanical engineering. Many industrial mechanics move on to pursue a bachelor’s degree or other on-the-job and formal training.

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