Mississippi College
Clinton, Mississippi · Private Nonprofit · 29.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 33/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mississippi College, a Baptist private nonprofit in Clinton, scores 33 out of 100, landing in the Below Benchmark tier. Tuition is $23,500 with net price actually higher at $27,712 (the difference reflects room and board), a four-year sticker of $110,848. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,485, climbing from $34,500 at year six. The 20.1-year payback period is steep. Median federal debt is $22,500 - relatively modest. The 59.3% completion rate is decent, and the 70.6% three-year repayment rate is solid. The Registered Nursing program (96 graduates, B grade, $69,572 first-year earnings) is the largest and best program, and accounting earns a B+ grade. The portfolio struggles in biology (61 graduates, F grade, 1.442 debt-to-earnings ratio) and psychology (30 graduates, F grade), which post weak outcomes. Mississippi College is a defensible choice for nursing, accounting, and business-bound students with a faith-integrated learning preference; the broader liberal arts portfolio underperforms.
How Mississippi College scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score33/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Mississippi College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $23,500/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,500/yr |
| Average net price | $27,712/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,848 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,485 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,518 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $23,500/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $27,712/year, or roughly $110,848 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $25,984/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,757/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,500) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,984 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,743 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,601 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,083 |
| $110,001+ | $29,757 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 pay $25,984 net price - high for the lowest income bracket, indicating limited deep aid stacking. Pell helps but does not bring this under $25,000. With $47,485 in 10-year earnings and $22,500 in median debt, low-income students who finish in nursing or accounting come out ahead, but the cost burden is real.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $25,743 - actually slightly less than the $0-$30,000 bracket, a minor inversion suggesting merit-aid stacking benefits this tier. The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $27,601 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $29,083. Reasonable income-progressive pricing with the small inversion at the lowest brackets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $29,757. Full-pay families spend roughly $119,000 over four years. The faith-integration value adds non-financial weight for committed Baptist families.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Mississippi College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,374 | B |
| Biology | $49,370 | F |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,861 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $52,789 | C |
| Psychology | $39,933 | F |
| Teacher Education | $42,673 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,779 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $39,178 | - |
| Accounting | $63,885 | B+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $44,329 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
By far the dominant program with 96 graduates, this BSN earns a B grade. First-year earnings of $69,572 climb to $77,374 by year four against $27,000 median debt and a 0.388 debt-to-earnings ratio. Strong outcomes driven by Mississippi healthcare demand. MC's nursing pipeline feeds Baptist Memorial, UMMC, and broader Mississippi hospital systems. Solid choice for nursing-bound Mississippi students.
Biology
Sixty-one graduates - the second-largest cohort - earn an F grade. First-year earnings of just $17,342 against $25,000 median debt produce a 1.442 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings climb sharply to $49,370, indicating real graduate-school progression for those who advance. Many MC biology students target medical, dental, pharmacy, or PA school - the four-year progression suggests the pipeline works for some. Without a clear graduate plan, the entry math is the toughest in the program mix.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Thirty-seven graduates earn a D grade. First-year earnings of $30,193 climb to $48,861 by year four against $24,625 median debt and a 0.816 ratio. Pre-PT/OT/athletic training pipeline; the four-year progression suggests some advance to graduate professional programs. Students should plan the graduate pathway.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Thirty-two graduates earn a C grade. First-year earnings of $43,299 climb to $52,789 by year four against $27,000 median debt and a 0.624 ratio. Graduates likely place into Jackson-area corporate, banking, and healthcare administration roles. Workable ROI for students who finish.
Psychology
Thirty graduates earn an F grade. First-year earnings of $23,683 against $26,000 median debt produce a 1.098 ratio. Four-year earnings only reach $39,933 - flat progression, suggesting most graduates do not advance to graduate psychology programs. The net price is $25,000+. Without a clear graduate plan, students should reconsider.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mississippi College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 29.1% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 2,518 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,995 |
ACT mid-range is 19-25; SAT not reported. The selective admit rate combined with a 59.3% completion rate suggests the school screens carefully but a meaningful minority of admits do not persist. Prepared Mississippi students with ACT 23+ should expect favorable consideration. The denominational identity and small-college culture drive applications from Southern Baptist families regionally.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi College (this school) | 33 | $27,712 | $47,485 |
| Colorado Christian University | 34 | $29,500 | $50,416 |
| William Carey University | 34 | $14,258 | $43,087 |
| Lancaster Bible College | 34 | $25,480 | $44,096 |
| North Central University | 33 | $25,817 | $45,064 |
| Ozark Christian College | 32 | $20,580 | $41,297 |
Who Thrives Here
Mississippi College enrolls 2,518 students with a 29.6% Pell rate, drawing primarily from Mississippi Baptist families. The fit is clearest for students pursuing nursing (96 graduates), accounting, business, or pre-law. Students seeking a faith-integrated education in healthcare or business career tracks find the strongest value.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Mississippi College scores 33/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $27,712 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,485 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.1 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Mississippi College: Common Questions
Is Mississippi College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Mississippi College scores 33/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $27,712 a year after aid against $47,485 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Mississippi College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $27,712 a year, or roughly $110,848 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Mississippi College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,485 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,685 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Mississippi College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 20.1 years for Mississippi College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mississippi College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Mississippi College?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.