University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi · Public · 96.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Mississippi scores 65 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Ole Miss has $41,300 average 6-year earnings, a 12.1-year payback period, a 71.7% completion rate, and in-state tuition of $9,772. The 12.1-year payback is longer than the institution's metrics might suggest - it reflects a program mix where engineering and healthcare deliver strong outcomes but high-volume programs in journalism, kinesiology, communication, and social sciences weigh down the average. Chemical Engineering (15 graduates, $76,685 year-one, B+ grade) and Electrical Engineering (19 graduates, $74,931 year-one) lead STEM. Registered Nursing (282 graduates, $69,353 year-one, B+ grade) is the strongest high-volume program. Accounting (219 graduates, $59,123 year-one, B grade) and Finance (192 graduates, $52,550 year-one) are strong in business. Ole Miss's journalism program is nationally known - Radio/TV/Digital Communication has 293 graduates but $41,247 year-one earnings. Kinesiology (108 graduates, F-grade, $22,239 year-one) and Biology (130 graduates, F-grade, $21,325 year-one) are the worst financial outcomes, driven by pre-professional pipeline patterns that Scorecard data captures poorly.
University of Mississippi
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,772/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,600/yr |
| Average net price | $13,314/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,256 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,994 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 21,473 |
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: $9,772/year ($28,600/year out-of-state), 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 $13,314/year, or roughly $53,256 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 $8,945/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,313/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,000, which works out to about $212 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,300) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $8,945 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,217 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,794 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,573 |
| $110,001+ | $21,313 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $8,945 per year - $35,780 over four years. For nursing and accounting graduates, the entire four-year investment is recovered in under eight months of employment. For the many students in kinesiology, biology, or social sciences, payback extends considerably. Ole Miss is genuinely affordable for low-income Mississippi residents, and merit scholarship opportunities can reduce cost further.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,794 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $18,573 per year. At $74,292 over four years for the upper-middle bracket, Ole Miss's STEM, nursing, and accounting programs are solid values. The journalism and communication programs delivering $35,000-$41,000 year-one earnings against this cost base produce a payback of three-plus years - manageable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $21,313 per year - $85,252 over four years. Nursing ($69,353 year-one), accounting ($59,123), and engineering ($70,038) justify the investment. Kinesiology ($22,239 year-one) and biology ($21,325 year-one) do not, at any price point, until the professional school pipeline resolves.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Mississippi with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $69,082 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $87,701 | B+ |
| Accounting | $85,482 | B |
| Marketing | $69,139 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $80,488 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $39,464 | C+ |
| Psychology | $49,974 | D |
| Teacher Education | $42,535 | C+ |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $34,607 | D |
| Biology | $58,393 | F |
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
Registered Nursing (282 graduates) earns $69,353 at year one and $87,701 at year four with $21,450 median debt and a 0.309 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). Nursing is Ole Miss's highest-volume strong-outcome program. Mississippi healthcare labor demand is consistent and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.309 reflects manageable borrowing against solid earnings.
Accounting
Accounting (219 graduates) earns $59,123 at year one and $85,482 at year four with $23,150 median debt and a 0.392 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). Year-four earnings of $85,482 reflect the audit and assurance careers that Mississippi and regional placements support.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (192 graduates) earns $52,550 at year one and $80,488 at year four with $24,487 median debt and a 0.466 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+). Finance at Ole Miss's in-state price is a fair value - C+ grade reflects the moderate debt against solid but not exceptional earnings. Mississippi's financial services sector is limited; Ole Miss finance graduates who relocate to Atlanta or other Southeastern metros see better career trajectories.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (65 graduates) earns $70,038 at year one and $93,311 at year four with $24,629 median debt and a 0.352 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). ME at Ole Miss delivers solid B-grade outcomes at a state university price. Mississippi's petrochemical and manufacturing sectors absorb engineering graduates. Year-four earnings of $93,311 reflect career progression into senior engineering and management roles.
Biology
Biology (130 graduates) earns $21,325 at year one with $21,500 median debt and a 1.008 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade F). The F-grade reflects biology's typical pre-professional earnings pattern - most Ole Miss biology graduates are in medical or dental school during the Scorecard six-year window, not in the workforce. This grade describes near-term earnings during graduate training, not the long-run career outcome. Students heading to professional school should model total educational debt across their full training pathway.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Mississippi’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 | 96.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-29 |
| Enrollment | 21,473 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,330 |
Ole Miss admits 96.6% of applicants - near-open enrollment for all qualified applicants. ACT 21-29 spans the full range of college-ready students. Admission is not a filter; financial aid packaging and scholarship opportunities are the key enrollment considerations.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mississippi (this school) | 65 | $13,314 | $50,994 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 67 | $10,359 | $55,037 |
| Northern Arizona University | 64 | $14,158 | $54,384 |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | 61 | $9,403 | $50,923 |
| Delta State University | 29 | $13,540 | $41,991 |
| Alcorn State University | 16 | $13,265 | $36,421 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Mississippi side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Ole Miss enrolls 21,473 undergraduates in Oxford, Mississippi - a flagship Southern research university with a strong campus culture and 96.6% admission rate. SAT mid-range is 490-590 Math and 510-610 Reading; ACT 21-29. The broad acceptance rate masks a meaningful Greek life-dominated, athletics-centric campus culture. Students targeting accounting, nursing, engineering, or journalism will find strong established programs. Students seeking a traditional Southern flagship experience with competitive amenities will find Oxford's campus environment compelling.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Mississippi is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $13,314 a year after aid ($53,256 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $50,994 a decade out, the cost takes about 12.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 71.7% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $20,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Mississippi: Common Questions
Is University of Mississippi worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Mississippi is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $13,314 a year after aid ($53,256 over four years) against $50,994 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 12.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Mississippi 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 $13,314 a year, or roughly $53,256 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 University of Mississippi graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $50,994 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,194 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 University of Mississippi?
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 12.1 years for University of Mississippi. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Mississippi graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,000, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Mississippi?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.