by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Mississippi Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 24 schools in Mississippi to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Mississippi to be the best school for overall quality in Mississippi in this year’s ranking.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss is $50,994 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mississippi State University. The school came in at #2 in Mississippi on this year’s overall quality ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Mississippi State make an average of $51,513 a year.
Out of the 24 schools in Mississippi that were part of this year’s ranking, Mississippi Delta Community College landed the #3 spot on the list.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $28,421 during the early years of their career..
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hinds Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Hinds Community College make an average of $30,774 a year.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in Mississippi list means Mississippi College is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,485 during the early years of their career..
With a ranking of #6, Mississippi University for Women did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from MUW make an average of $46,128 a year.
William Carey University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,087 during the early years of their career..
University of Southern Mississippi ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Miss make an average of $44,140 per year during the early years of their career.
Holmes Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Holmes Community College make an average of $32,922 per year during the early years of their career.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #10.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College go into careers with an average salary of $33,017 during the early years of their career.
Belhaven University did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #11.
The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. During the early years of their career, graduates from Belhaven make an average of $46,440 a year.
Itawamba Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #12.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from ICC make an average of $32,912 per year during the early years of their career.
Northwest Mississippi Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from NWCC go into careers with an average salary of $36,396 during the early years of their career.
Meridian Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from MCC make an average of $31,002 a year.
Pearl River Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $33,019 during the early years of their career..
Jackson State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Jackson State make an average of $39,060 a year.
Coahoma Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Coahoma Community College is $24,289 during the early years of their career.
East Central Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from East Central Community College is $32,421 during the early years of their career.
East Mississippi Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from EMCC make an average of $33,772 per year during the early years of their career.
Delta State University landed the #20 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Delta State University make an average of $41,991 a year.
Alcorn State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Mississippi list.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State go into careers with an average salary of $36,421 during the early years of their career.
Blue Mountain College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #22.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Blue Mountain College make an average of $40,421 a year.
Northeast Mississippi Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking, coming in at #23.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College is $34,081 during the early years of their career.
Jones County Junior College landed the #24 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in Mississippi ranking.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Jones County Junior College make an average of $33,377 per year during the early years of their career.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 24 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.