Can you go to college for free in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, there are several programs and scholarships designed to help students attend college for free or at a significantly reduced cost. Some of the notable ones include the Nissan Scholarship, Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant, Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant, and Higher Education Legislative Plan. These programs offer substantial financial assistance to eligible students, making it possible for them to attend college at no or reduced cost. It's important for students to meet application deadlines and maintain eligibility requirements to continue receiving financial aid.

What is the #1 college in Mississippi?

The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is consistently ranked as the top college in Mississippi. It's also regarded as a top college in the country, known for its academic excellence, tight-knit community, and successful athletic teams.

What is the easiest online college to get into in Mississippi?

The easiest online colleges to get into in Mississippi are Mississippi University for Women and Blue Mountain Christian University. Both colleges have a 100% acceptance rate, according to NCES, and a wide variety of online degree programs to choose from.

Best Online Colleges in Mississippi

Discover the top online colleges in Mississippi and the benefits they offer. From affordable tuition to high-paying job opportunities, find your perfect fit.

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Updated July 2, 2024

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In recent years, online education has transformed the landscape of higher education, offering flexibility, convenience, and a wide range of degree options. In Mississippi, several top-tier colleges and universities offer accredited online programs, providing students with the opportunity to pursue their educational goals from the comfort of their homes.

We’ll take a closer look at the top online colleges in Mississippi and the benefits they offer to students. From affordable tuition costs to high-paying job opportunities, here’s how these online programs can help you achieve your academic and career goals.

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In this Article

Best Online Colleges in Mississippi

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

University of Mississippi

University, MS4 yearCampus + Online

$9,072

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,292

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

98%

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,072

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,294

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

24,043

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,072

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,292

University of Mississippi

University, MS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,072

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,292

Acceptance Rate

98%

Online Enrollment

59%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,072

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,294

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

24,043

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS4 yearCampus + Online

$9,248

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,398

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,444

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

22,657

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,248

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,294

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,248

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,294

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

45%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,398

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,444

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

22,657

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS4 yearCampus + Online

$9,240

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,256

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

99%

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,340

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,340

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

13,110

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,240

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,256

University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,240

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,256

Acceptance Rate

99%

Online Enrollment

77%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,340

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,340

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

13,110

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Cost of College in Mississippi

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of attending a public college in Mississippi for the academic year 2022-23 was $9,120 for in-state students.

However, this number doesn’t include other expenses such as room, board, and additional costs, which can vary depending on the institution and the student’s circumstances.

Tuition costs can also vary depending on the type of institution, with four-year public institutions charging an average of $9,120 for in-state students and $21,531 for out-of-state students. Private four-year institutions charge an average tuition of $20,042.

Cost of College in Mississippi in 2022-2023
Institution Type	Average Tuition & Required Fees
Public Four-Year (In-State)	$9,120
Public Four-Year (Out-of-State)	$21,531
Private Four-Year	$20,042
Public Two-Year (In-State)	$3,688
Public Two-Year (Out-of-State)	$6,233

Source: NCES

The 10 Fastest Growing High-Paying Jobs in Mississippi

Mississippi is experiencing significant growth in a variety of high-paying jobs, according to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

The healthcare sector, in particular, is booming, with 8 of the top 10 projected fastest-growing high-paying jobs for the period of 2022-2032. Nurse practitioners, physical therapy assistants, and medical and health service managers are among the top-ranking jobs.

The median annual salary for these top ten occupations is more than double the state’s median annual salary, indicating high earning potential. Nurse practitioners have a particularly high concentration in Mississippi, second only to Tennessee. These jobs offer substantial opportunities in terms of job stability, growth potential, and average salaries.

10 Fast Growing Jobs in Mississippi
Job	Job Growth 2022-2032	Median Annual Wage 2022
Nurse Practitioners	97.2%	$108,920
Conservation Scientists	53.3%	$72,820
Physical Therapist Assistants	41.8%	$61,600
Medical and Health Services Managers	37.4%	$80,950
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	27.6%	$52,930
Speech-Language Pathologists	23.9%	$51,840
Respiratory Therapists	21.2%	$51,840
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	20%	$63,620
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	16.7%	$109,290
Physical Therapists	16.2%	$97,750

Source: Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in Mississippi

Some of the cheapest online colleges in Mississippi include Mississippi University for Women and Delta State University, both with tuition rates around $8,000. The cheapest program for you could vary depending on the financial aid and scholarship offers you receive from colleges in Mississippi.