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Mississippi Valley State University

#8 Most Affordable HBCUs
Public Itta Bena, MS · Rural · Southeast · 100% data
A Social Mobility B Affordability C+ Value
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
Earnings -22% vs avg
Graduation -57% vs avg
Net Price +-43% vs avg
Mobility Top 4%

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.

21.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $21.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $796,659.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduate earnings fall 22% below the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 24% — 57% below the national average.

  4. Social mobility rate of 3.95% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  5. 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

Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C
Top 53% overall
D+
Earnings
$31,919 median
C+
Value
3.3× net price
B
Affordability
$9,686/yr net
F
Graduation
24% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.9% climb Q1→Q5
D
Selectivity
92% admit rate
F
Diversity
0.16 index

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

How we grade →

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

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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.

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 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

$25,817 6yr $29,820 8yr $31,919 10yr

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.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation24%Earnings 10yr$32KNet Price$10KRetention70%Median Debt$28KPell Grant Rate56%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$9K$0-30K$9K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$17K$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%45.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.7%MOBILITY3.95%

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)

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.

Economic Connectedness
0.62
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
1.9%
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

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.

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 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.

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