Cost of college in Mississippi
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Mississippi averages $9,727 a year, or $16,648 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $47,767 and owe about $22,176. The net price pays back in about 11 years.
How Mississippi compares to the US
Mississippi ranks #30 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #49 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #49 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Mississippi | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $9,727 | $9,518 | +$209 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,054 | $23,652 | -$1,598 |
| Net price after aid | $16,648 | $13,788 | +$2,860 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $47,767 | $56,427 | -$8,660 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,176 | $17,856 | +$4,320 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Mississippi pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Mississippi costs about $66,592 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 11 years from the roughly $5,967-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #49 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Mississippi list about $22,141 in tuition and net out to about $19,914 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Mississippi?
At a public 4-year college in Mississippi, in-state tuition and fees average about $9,727 a year and out-of-state runs about $22,054. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $16,648. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Mississippi earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Mississippi's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $47,767 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $22,176 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Mississippi?
A public 4-year degree in Mississippi costs about $66,592 over four years at net price and recoups in about 11 years from the roughly $5,967-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.