2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Millsaps College

Open-data reference.

We found 8 schools structurally similar to Millsaps College that cost less. 8 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Millsaps College

Jackson, Mississippi · Private Nonprofit

$26,034
Net Price
$53,848
Median Earnings (10yr)
43.1%
Acceptance Rate
56.3%
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Millsaps College

Millsaps College posts an average net price of $26,034 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Millsaps College across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 8 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $11,636, achieved by Bowdoin College at $14,398. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 8 of the 8 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Millsaps College’s $53,848, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $84,141.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

8
Alternatives Found
$11,636
Max Savings
8
Better Value Options
40%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Top 5 1. Washington and Lee Universit $95k 2. Williams College $89k 3. Wellesley College $85k 4. Bowdoin College $83k 5. Davidson College $81k Compared to Millsaps College: $54k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$23,781 -$2,253 $94,810 94.4% 40%
Williams College
Williamstown, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$17,716 -$8,318 $88,665 95.1% 40%
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$25,496 -$538 $84,803 91.4% 40%
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$14,398 -$11,636 $82,735 95.4% 40%
Davidson College
Davidson, NC · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$17,379 -$8,655 $81,400 91.5% 40%
Colby College
Waterville, ME · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$17,180 -$8,854 $80,490 89.5% 40%
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$23,149 -$2,885 $80,257 93.2% 40%
Haverford College
Haverford, PA · Private Nonprofit Better Value
$25,314 -$720 $79,966 89.5% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, graduate earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Millsaps College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Millsaps College?
We found 8 schools similar to Millsaps College that cost less. The closest match is Washington and Lee University with 40% similarity and a net price of $23,781.
What is the ROI of attending Millsaps College?
Millsaps College has an average net price of $26,034. Graduates earn a median of $53,848 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.1x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Millsaps College for less money?
Yes — 8 of 8 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Washington and Lee University costs $23,781 (saving $2,253) with median earnings of $94,810.
What is the cheapest alternative to Millsaps College?
The most affordable similar school is Bowdoin College at $14,398, saving $11,636 compared to Millsaps College. It has a 40% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 8 alternatives have an average median earnings of $84,141 compared to Millsaps College's $53,848. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary — check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.