Mississippi Valley State University
#8 Most Affordable HBCUs- Graduation Rate
- 24% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $31,919 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,686 B
- 43% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 92% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 21.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable HBCUs.
Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $796,659.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 22% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 24% — 57% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.95% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Mississippi Valley State University Matters
Mississippi Valley State University is a public university in Itta Bena, 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,439
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education
Why students choose Mississippi Valley State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,686 a year after grants and scholarships — 43% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $31,919 ten years after enrolling — 22% below the typical college, against $28,413 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 4% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.62 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Mississippi Valley State University, with an enrollment of about 1,439 students and an acceptance rate of 92%, is a welcoming environment for those seeking a supportive academic community. It stands out for its focus on programs in Humanities, Education, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, and Communications. This diversity in studies means there’s something for various interests and career paths, making it a good fit for students looking for a personalized educational experience.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $31,919 within ten years. While the graduation rate is relatively low at 24%, many students still find paths to success, often moving into fields related to their studies. Affordability is a key factor here, as the net price after aid is about $9,686, making it accessible for those who qualify for financial support. With a Pell Grant rate of 56%, many students receive assistance that can ease the financial burden.
Looking at the practicalities, the median debt of $28,413 suggests careful consideration for prospective students. Those who thrive here often take advantage of the supportive community and diverse programs, which can help them navigate challenges and succeed academically. This environment may suit individuals who are motivated and ready to engage deeply with their studies and communities.
Rankings
- #8 Most Affordable HBCUs
- #9 Best Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi
- #9 Best Master's Programs in Mississippi
- #10 Best Biology Colleges in Mississippi
- #13 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi
- #14 Best Education Colleges in Mississippi
- #15 Most Affordable Colleges for Physical Sciences
- #15 Most Affordable Colleges for Environmental Science
Can I Get In?
How selective Mississippi Valley State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mississippi Valley State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 870. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- SAT Average
- 870
- ACT Midpoint
- 16
- ACT Range
- 13–17
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,733
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.16
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
- Applicants
- 2,436
- Admitted
- 1,578
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 Mississippi Valley State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mississippi Valley State University is $7,692, 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 $9,686. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,413 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,692
- Out-of-State
- $7,692
- Avg Net Price
- $9,686
- Median Debt
- $28,413
- Pell Grant Rate
- 56%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 49%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,073
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,076
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,627
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,479
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 Mississippi Valley State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Mississippi Valley State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mississippi Valley State University report median earnings of $31,919, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $25,817
- 8 Years
- $29,820
- 10 Years
- $31,919
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.89x
- Earning > $25K
- 37%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (62)
- 16%
- 100% (62)
- 16%
- 100% (62)
- 16%
- 100% (62)
- 16%
How Mississippi Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Mississippi Valley State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mississippi Valley State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,686/year ($38,744 total). Graduates earn $31,919 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $835,403 in total earnings — a net gain of $796,659 (21.6× your investment). The median debt is $28,413, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $38,744
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $835,403
- Net Return
- $796,659
- ROI Multiple
- 21.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,686
- Median Debt
- $28,413
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
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 Mississippi Valley State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mississippi Valley State University 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 3.95%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 45.5% 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 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $28,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 45.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $39,129
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,263,283
- Federal Grants
- $7,858,451
- Investment Income
- $-385,495
Top Programs
The fields Mississippi Valley State University 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.
- Humanities 31%
- Business & Marketing 18% $31,903 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7%
- Education 7% $33,292 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $26,368 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- English & Literature 2%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mississippi Valley State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mississippi Valley State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 870. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mississippi Valley State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mississippi Valley State University is $7,692, 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 $9,686. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,073 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,413 in federal student loans.
Is Mississippi Valley State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mississippi Valley State University report median earnings of $31,919, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Mississippi Valley State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mississippi Valley State University 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 3.95%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 45.5% 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 8.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $28,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mississippi Valley State University? 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 Mississippi Valley State University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mississippi Valley State University.
- Benedict CollegeColumbia, SC · Close peer23% grad $31,902 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Arkansas Community College-MorriltonMorrilton, AR · Close peer44% grad $34,924 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Kentucky State UniversityFrankfort, KY · Close peer30% grad $36,382 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of the Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, VI · Close peer28% grad $38,681 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Edward Waters UniversityJacksonville, FL · Close peer28% grad $34,782 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer16% grad $34,042 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mississippi Valley State University? 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 Mississippi Valley State University. Its economic connectedness score is 0.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note