10-yr median earnings
$51,513
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Mississippi State, Mississippi
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University is a public institution in Mississippi State, Mississippi. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $17,595
- Avg net price / yr
- $51,513
- 10-yr median earnings
- 64.8%
- 150%-time completion
- 77.6%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
Mississippi State University pairs above-median former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 27%
- former-student earnings, US
- 77.6%
- acceptance rate
- 64.8%
- 150%-time completion
- +18%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
Town: Remote
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this Mississippi State University profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
C+
College Value Score
60/100
Mississippi State University
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings B
$51,513
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$17,595
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate C+
64.8%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$22,142
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A-
78.4%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention B-
82.5%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$17,595
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
64.8%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 64.8%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - Mississippi State University vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How Mississippi State University ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
Mississippi State University: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$51,513 Top 27% higher than 73% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | Mississippi State University | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,513 | #1371 of 5103 | 73rd |
| Average net price | $17,595 | #2597 of 5020 | 48th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 64.8% | #1832 of 4858 | 62nd |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 18,397 | #154 of 5462 | 97th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
18,397
Undergraduate enrollment
77.6%
Acceptance rate
1,219
SAT average
64.8%
150%-time completion
$51,513
10-yr median earnings
82.5%
First-year retention
How Mississippi State University ranks in Mississippi
State rank among 49 reporting Mississippi colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | Mississippi State University | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $51,513 | #2 of 49 | 96th |
| Average net price | $17,595 | #35 of 49 | 29th (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 64.8% | #10 of 42 | 76th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 18,397 | #2 of 51 | 96th |
Highest former-student earnings in Mississippi
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millsaps College | $53,848 | $26,034 |
| 2 | Mississippi State UniversityThis school | $51,513 | $17,595 |
| 3 | University of Mississippi | $50,994 | $13,314 |
| 4 | University of Mississippi Medical Center | $50,994 | - |
| 5 | Mississippi Christian University | $47,485 | $27,712 |
| 6 | Belhaven University | $46,440 | $15,676 |
| 7 | Mississippi University for Women | $46,128 | $12,411 |
| 8 | University of Southern Mississippi | $44,140 | $21,708 |
| 9 | William Carey University | $43,087 | $14,258 |
| 10 | Delta State University | $41,991 | $13,540 |
| 11 | Blue Mountain Christian University | $40,421 | $24,016 |
| 12 | Strayer University-Mississippi | $40,092 | - |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 77.6% |
| SAT Average | 1,219 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540 – 680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560 – 670 |
| ACT Average | 26 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 21 – 29 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at Mississippi State University
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k
$0 – $30k
$14,332 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$14,372 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$18,671 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$22,987 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Mississippi State University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $10,202 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $27,637 |
| Average Net Price | $17,595 |
29.3%
Pell Grant Rate
38.7%
Federal Loan Rate
$22,142
Median Debt
$235/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at Mississippi State University swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $15,501 to $16,830 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as -3.0%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$15,501
Highest year
$16,830
Most recent (2023)
$15,501
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $15,9832023 · $15,501
Over the same years, enrollment went +10.3% (16,399 → 18,092 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
54.0%
Female
24.9%
First Generation
Outcomes
82.5%
Retention Rate
$43,487
Median Earnings (6yr)
67.0%
Earning Over $25K
78.4%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 64.8% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 82.5% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $43,487 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $51,513 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 67.0% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 78.4% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $22,142 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $235/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 53 | 4,186 | $61,164 | $106,039 | $22,518 |
| Master's | 15 | 759 | $77,120 | $128,049 | $31,373 |
| First Professional | 1 | 94 | $137,892 | $137,892 | $169,759 |
| Doctoral | 1 | 7 | $79,635 | $79,635 | - |
Top programs at Mississippi State University by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine
$137,892 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$128,049 median earnings
- Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering
$110,821 median earnings
- Electrical, Electronics, a…
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
$106,039 median earnings
- Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
$95,968 median earnings
- Construction Management
Construction Management
$94,068 median earnings
- Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
$93,893 median earnings
- Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering
$92,332 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Medicine | First Professional | 94 | $137,892 | $169,759 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 189 | $128,049 | $30,950 |
| Civil Engineering | Master's | 11 | $110,821 | - |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's | 72 | $106,039 | $25,037 |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's | 73 | $95,968 | $22,500 |
| Construction Management | Bachelor's | 32 | $94,068 | $30,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's | 165 | $93,893 | $21,636 |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's | 53 | $92,332 | $27,000 |
| Engineering, Other | Bachelor's | 29 | $91,124 | $18,947 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's | 33 | $90,234 | $14,957 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Bachelor's | 82 | $88,444 | $17,500 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | Master's | 84 | $86,410 | $29,609 |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's | 33 | $85,275 | $19,500 |
| Taxation | Master's | 5 | $85,149 | - |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's | 83 | $82,852 | $24,250 |
Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
$17,597 net price · $2 apart
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
Hazleton, PA
$17,597 net price · $2 apart
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center
Cape Girardeau, MO
$17,598 net price · $3 apart
Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT
$17,604 net price · $9 apart
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Mississippi State University? ▼
Mississippi State University is a public institution in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The acceptance rate is 77.6%. The average SAT score is 1,219. Undergraduate enrollment is 18,397 students.
How much do Mississippi State University former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at Mississippi State University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $51,513 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $43,487.
How much does Mississippi State University cost? ▼
The average net price at Mississippi State University is $17,595. In-state tuition is $10,202 and out-of-state tuition is $27,637. Median student debt at graduation is $22,142.
What is the graduation rate at Mississippi State University? ▼
Mississippi State University has a 64.8% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 82.5%.
Is Mississippi State University worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at Mississippi State University is $22,142, while former students earn a median of $51,513 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 43% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 78.4% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $235.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from Mississippi State University
- Compare Mississippi State University against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Mississippi side by side.Browse Mississippi
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.