Best Colleges in Mississippi of 2023

The University of Mississippi, or Ole Miss, is known for its incredible athletics department and rigorous academic degree programs. Located in the aptly named University, Mississippi, the campus offers many options for student life, such as cheering on the home team at sporting events, volunteering at the Ole Miss Food Bank, and engaging with any of their numerous social and service programs. For academics, they have both undergraduate and graduate programs. Academic programs are offered both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. An exceptional benefit for those interested in pursuing a career in law is the 3+3 Accelerated Law degree program. This specialized degree path also allows students in the College of Liberal Arts and several other departments to take courses through the University of Michigan School of Law as part of their Bachelor's degree program.

Mississippi State University is recognized across the country for its excellent leadership in the cybersecurity field. It is one of only a handful of schools to hold all of the National Security Agency's credentials for centers of academic excellence. Mississippi State University also leads the NSA-sponsored CAE Cyber Operations Community of Practice. If cybersecurity and technology are your programs of choice, they offer both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the field. In addition, they also provide a wide range of other programs, including being the only public university in the state to offer a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.

Millsaps College, located in Jackson, Mississippi, is renowned for its exceptional academic programs. This private liberal arts college has rigorous admittance standards, with around half of applicants having an SAT score between 1135 and 1355. U.S. News recently ranked it as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country. They are well known for their business programs, with a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy offered through the Else School of Management. Over 90% of their students are either employed or in graduate school within six months of graduating from Millsaps. They also offer a unique program that allows students to self-design a major. Millsaps College provides a path to graduation in four years, and their graduates earn the highest average salary from any four-year college or university in Mississippi (10 years after starting college).

Located in Blue Mountain, Mississippi, Blue Mountain Christian University offers one of the most affordable tuition rates for a Southern school. U.S. News & World Report ranked them 4th in Best Value for Regional Colleges in the South. In addition to affordability, they were also ranked as the 6th Best College in Mississippi. Alongside their low tuition cost, they offer scholarships for Freshman and Transfer students and general scholarships for students in other years. Many undergraduate degree programs also offer a Pathways to Professional Health program for students planning to pursue a degree in medicine or healthcare.

Now co-educational, Mississippi University for Women was the first public college for women in the United States and included Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty among its alums. Their dedication to equality and inclusion continues today. The Mississippi University for Women is dedicated to providing public service opportunities to students that enrich them and their surrounding community. In addition, they have received recognition from U.S. News & World Report for their commitment to low student debt, diversity, and social mobility. They were also named by Washington Monthly as one of America's Best Bang for the Buck Colleges, offering an affordable price tag for an exceptional education.

With a tight-knit community based around a shared faith, Mississippi College offers a unique and affordable option for students who want to further their education while also engaging deeply with their faith. They have a comprehensive liberal arts program with over 80 undergraduate majors. Mississippi College is also an affordable option for a private college, with an average tuition cost of $15,000 less than most private universities. In addition to a lower tuition rate, they also offer a variety of academic scholarships to students who have achieved high ACT or SAT scores, those showing promise or talent with music, transfer students, and some need-based grants.

Located in Biloxi, Mississippi, William Carey University is known for its affordable and academically well-regarded online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Best Degree Programs ranked William Carey University sixth on the list of the thirty most affordable programs at private universities. Additionally, their College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Pharmacy offers students a learning path in compassionate healthcare. Alongside their healthcare-focused degrees, they also provide a wide range of undergraduate, master's, specialist, and doctoral programs, including in-person and online MBA degree programs. Their specialist programs include Dyslexia Therapy and Educational Leadership.

This private Christian university is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, and they offer Bachelor's in Dance as well as Master's in Dance degree paths. Both of these programs will provide you with an in-depth dance education, covering topics such as choreography, production, and dance ministry. At the graduate level, you'll also be able to study more advanced topics like pedagogy and kinesiology. Belhaven's state-of-the-art facilities provide students with numerous opportunities to participate in performances, and internationally recognized guest choreographers and master teachers regularly visit to share their experiences. It's also worth noting that a full-time athletic trainer works on-site to provide injury care and prevention services for dancers.

Located in Cleveland, Mississippi, Delta State University was initially founded as a teacher's college. In addition to their well-regarded Education program, they now offer a variety of degree programs ranging from the humanities to sciences. In addition, they also provide a few highly specialized degrees that are hard to find elsewhere, including degrees in Commercial Aviation and Geospatial Information Technology. While education is their foremost priority, the campus also offers many amenities, including the Bologna Performing Arts Center, which brings artists from around the world and fans from across the Southeast region as one of the entertainment center hubs for the area.

Alcorn State University is located in Lorman, Mississippi, and offers a selective but affordable education. Ranked #28 in Best Colleges for Veterans in the South by U.S. News & World Report, Alcorn State University offers one of the most affordable tuition rates in Mississippi, alongside substantial scholarships and grants. This HBCU is home to the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center, which works towards creating a better world for some of the country's hardest working population. If being part of a university where equity and inclusion are prized, then Alcorn State University offers one of the most community-minded and socially-progressive universities on this list.

The only HBCU in Mississippi with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, Jackson State University is a well-regarded academic institution with exceptional learning opportunities for every student. Diverse Issues in Higher Education listed JSU as one of the United States' top producers for African-American graduates in education and the sciences. JSU also participates in the Student Freedom Initiative, which enables Minority Serving Institutions to help their students graduate without the burdens of student debt. At JSU, this means that students have more access to tools and resources during college, including student interest-based internships, as well as juniors and seniors may be eligible for income-contingent funding that is an alternative to the Parent PLUS loan.