Tougaloo College
#10 Best Psychology Colleges in Mississippi- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,724 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $17,043 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 60% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Psychology Colleges in Mississippi.
Every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $975,242.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 33% — 43% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Tougaloo College Matters
Tougaloo College is a private liberal arts college in Tougaloo, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 639
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 76
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Tougaloo College
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
Competitive — admits about 60% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,043 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,724 ten years after enrolling — 15% below the typical college, against $30,046 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.05 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 639 students, Tougaloo College is a solid choice for those focused on social sciences, biology, education, psychology, and communications. The school has a 60% acceptance rate, which makes it accessible while still attracting a diverse student body. It's a place where students can engage deeply in their chosen fields and build strong connections with faculty and peers.
After graduation, the typical earnings for Tougaloo alumni are around $34,724 within ten years. That’s a decent starting point for many graduates, especially considering the affordability of the school. With a net price of $17,043, the financial barriers to entry are lower than many other institutions, and a significant portion of the student body—63%—receives Pell Grants. This support can really make a difference in how quickly graduates can find their footing in the workforce.
Looking at the financial picture, students graduate with a median debt of $30,046. While debt is a concern for many, supporting services and a close-knit community at Tougaloo tend to help students thrive. Those who are motivated and engaged often find that they can leverage their degrees effectively, leading to stable career paths. The college environment encourages growth, making it a nurturing space for those who want to make a positive impact in their communities.
Rankings
- #10 Best Psychology Colleges in Mississippi
- #13 Best HBCUs for Social Work
- #14 Best Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi
- #14 Best Master's Programs in Mississippi
- #14 Best Biology Colleges in Mississippi
- #15 Best Education Colleges in Mississippi
- #19 Best HBCUs for Visual
- #19 Best HBCUs for Graphic Design
Can I Get In?
How selective Tougaloo College 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 Tougaloo College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Tougaloo, Mississippi, Tougaloo College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- Full-Time Faculty
- 95%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $4,012
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.25
- First-Gen Students
- 30%
- Applicants
- 2,817
- Admitted
- 1,389
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 Tougaloo College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tougaloo College is $12,407, 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 $17,043. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,294 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,046 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,407
- Out-of-State
- $12,407
- Avg Net Price
- $17,043
- Median Debt
- $30,046
- Pell Grant Rate
- 63%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 60%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,294
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,523
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,744
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,266
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Tougaloo College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tougaloo College report median earnings of $34,724, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $25,777
- 8 Years
- $31,934
- 10 Years
- $34,724
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.87x
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (42)
- 25%
- 100% (42)
- 25%
- 100% (42)
- 25%
- 100% (42)
- 25%
How Tougaloo Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Tougaloo College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Tougaloo College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,043/year ($68,172 total). Graduates earn $34,724 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,043,414 in total earnings — a net gain of $975,242 (15.3× your investment). The median debt is $30,046, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $68,172
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,043,414
- Net Return
- $975,242
- ROI Multiple
- 15.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,043
- Median Debt
- $30,046
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,694,964
Top Programs
The fields Tougaloo College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Social Sciences 20%
- Biology & Biomedical 18%
- Education 15%
- Psychology 10%
- Communications 7%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- English & Literature 3%
- Physical Sciences 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Tougaloo College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Tougaloo College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Tougaloo, Mississippi, Tougaloo College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 19. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Tougaloo College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Tougaloo College is $12,407, 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 $17,043. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,294 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,046 in federal student loans.
Is Tougaloo College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Tougaloo College report median earnings of $34,724, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Tougaloo College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Tougaloo College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.05, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Tougaloo College.
- Stillman CollegeTuscaloosa, AL · Close peer32% grad $35,421 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, NC · Close peer29% grad $38,412 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, NC · Close peer26% grad $32,600 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, NC · Close peer42% grad $36,260 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourville, KY · Close peer34% grad $42,002 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Shaw UniversityRaleigh, NC · Close peer21% grad $34,409 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Tougaloo College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Tougaloo College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.05, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.08), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note