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Copiah-Lincoln Community College

#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi
Public Wesson, MS · Rural · Southeast · 87% data
A Affordability A Value A Social Mobility
Graduation Rate
51% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$31,241 D
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$3,894 A
77% less than the typical college
Enrollment
1,922
Earnings -23% vs avg
Graduation -11% vs avg
Net Price +-77% vs avg
Mobility Top 8%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 45.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $45.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi.

45.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $45.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $692,752.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduate earnings fall 23% below the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 3.28% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $45.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Copiah-Lincoln Community College Matters

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a public community college in Wesson, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
1,922
Setting
Rural
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education

Why students choose Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 34% overall
D
Earnings
$31,241 median
A
Value
8.0× net price
A
Affordability
$3,894/yr net
C-
Graduation
51% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.3% climb Q1→Q5
C-
Diversity
0.55 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 1,922 students, Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS, is a solid choice for those looking for a more intimate learning environment. The college is particularly known for its programs in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education, and Precision Production. This makes it a fitting option for students who want to dive deep into these fields and gain practical skills that can lead to fulfilling careers.

When considering life after graduation, the numbers tell a hopeful story. Graduates earn a median income of $31,241 ten years after completing their degrees. This suggests that many students here are able to find stable employment in their chosen fields. The affordability of a degree at Copiah-Lincoln also plays a significant role in this picture, with a net price of just $3,894 after aid. This makes it accessible for many, especially given that around 40% of students receive Pell Grants.

From a financial perspective, the practical aspects are quite manageable. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,435, which is lower than what many might face at larger institutions. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate a supportive community and are focused on developing skills in practical fields. This college is a great stepping stone for those looking to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year institution later on.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Copiah-Lincoln Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Wesson, Mississippi, Copiah-Lincoln Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.

Retention Rate
73%
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,273
Student–Faculty Ratio
20:1
Diversity Index
0.55
First-Gen Students
41%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Copiah-Lincoln Community College is $5,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,894. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,165 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,435 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,000
Out-of-State
$5,000
Avg Net Price
$3,894
Median Debt
$7,435
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate
10%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,165
Family Income $30K–$48K
$3,289
Family Income $48K–$75K
$5,624
Family Income $110K+
$11,501

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Copiah-Lincoln Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Copiah-Lincoln Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Copiah-Lincoln Community College report median earnings of $31,241, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$28,001
8 Years
$30,678
10 Years
$31,241
Debt-to-Earnings
0.24x
Earning > $25K
42%

Earnings Trajectory

$28,001 6yr $30,678 8yr $31,241 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (241)
33%
100% (241)
33%
100% (241)
33%
100% (241)
33%

How Copiah-Lincoln Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation51%Earnings 10yr$31KNet Price$4KRetention73%Median Debt$7KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$3K$30-48K$6K$48-75K$12K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%31.8%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%10.3%MOBILITY3.28%

College ROI Calculator

Is Copiah-Lincoln Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Copiah-Lincoln Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,894/year ($15,576 total). Graduates earn $31,241 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $708,328 in total earnings — a net gain of $692,752 (45.5× your investment). The median debt is $7,435, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$15,576
Projected 20yr Earnings
$708,328
Net Return
$692,752
ROI Multiple
45.5×
Cost Per Year
$3,894
Median Debt
$7,435
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
51%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Copiah-Lincoln Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.28%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 31.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.28%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
10.3%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
31.8%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$56,248
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.76
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.13
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.5%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$16,370

Top Programs

The fields Copiah-Lincoln Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Wesson, Mississippi, Copiah-Lincoln Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Copiah-Lincoln Community College is $5,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,894. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,165 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,435 in federal student loans.

Is Copiah-Lincoln Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Copiah-Lincoln Community College report median earnings of $31,241, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Copiah-Lincoln Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.28%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 31.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $41,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Copiah-Lincoln Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys