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University of Mississippi

#1 Best Colleges in Mississippi
Public University, MS · Town · Southeast · 100% data
B Value B- Earnings B- Graduation
Graduation Rate
70% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$50,994 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$13,314 C+
22% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
97% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +25% vs avg
Graduation +23% vs avg
Net Price +-22% vs avg
Mobility Top 41%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Mississippi.

21.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,115,075.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 25% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $21.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Mississippi Matters

University of Mississippi is a public research university in University, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
21,473
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose University of Mississippi

Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 42% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,994 median
B
Value
3.8× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,314/yr net
B-
Graduation
70% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.7% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
97% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.38 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

The University of Mississippi is an inviting choice for students seeking a large public university experience, with an acceptance rate of 97%. This means that most applicants find a home here, making it a great option for those looking to pursue popular fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Communications, Education, and Psychology. The campus culture offers a blend of academic rigor and community engagement, which can be particularly appealing for students wanting to build connections while they learn.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $50,994 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure suggests that there's potential for upward mobility, especially for graduates in high-demand fields. With a manageable net price of $13,314 after aid, the affordability of an education here makes it accessible for many. The mix of educational opportunities and career outcomes indicates that students are generally prepared to make their mark in the workforce.

When it comes to financial considerations, the median debt stands at $20,000, which is quite reasonable given the potential earnings post-graduation. Students who thrive here often take advantage of the supportive environment and diverse programs. With a significant portion of the student body receiving Pell Grants, it’s clear that this university is committed to supporting students from various economic backgrounds, setting the stage for a fruitful college experience.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Mississippi 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 University of Mississippi? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Mississippi, located in University, Mississippi, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,184. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

Acceptance Rate
97%
Retention Rate
87%
SAT Average
1184
ACT Midpoint
25
SAT Range
1000–1200
ACT Range
21–29
Full-Time Faculty
86%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,330
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.38
First-Gen Students
24%
Applicants
22,311
Admitted
21,727

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Mississippi is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 19% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
19%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
8%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
60%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 68% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: University of Mississippi's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

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 University of Mississippi? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Mississippi is $28,600, 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 $13,314. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,945 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$9,772
Out-of-State
$28,600
Avg Net Price
$13,314
Median Debt
$20,000
Pell Grant Rate
22%
Federal Loan Rate
37%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$8,945
Family Income $30K–$48K
$9,217
Family Income $48K–$75K
$14,794
Family Income $110K+
$21,313

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 University of Mississippi — 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 University of Mississippi Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Mississippi earn a median of $50,994, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$45,336
8 Years
$48,889
10 Years
$50,994
Debt-to-Earnings
0.39x
Earning > $25K
71%

Earnings Trajectory

$45,336 6yr $48,889 8yr $50,994 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (1,809)
48%
100% (1,809)
48%
100% (1,809)
48%
100% (1,809)
48%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation70%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$13KRetention87%Median Debt$20KPell Grant Rate22%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$9K$0-30K$9K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$21K$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%7.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%23.7%MOBILITY1.65%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Mississippi Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of Mississippi delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,314/year ($53,256 total). Graduates earn $50,994 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,168,331 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,115,075 (21.9× your investment). The median debt is $20,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$53,256
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,168,331
Net Return
$1,115,075
ROI Multiple
21.9×
Cost Per Year
$13,314
Median Debt
$20,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
70%

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 University of Mississippi Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Mississippi 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 1.65%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.65%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
23.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
7.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$148,229
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Mississippi? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Mississippi. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.44
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.07
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.4%
Support Ratio
0.99
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
$-46,397,296

Top Programs

The fields University of Mississippi 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 University of Mississippi? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Mississippi, located in University, Mississippi, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,184. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Mississippi? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Mississippi is $28,600, 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 $13,314. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,945 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,000 in federal student loans.

Is University of Mississippi Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Mississippi earn a median of $50,994, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does University of Mississippi Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Mississippi 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 1.65%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is University of Mississippi? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Mississippi. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does University of Mississippi offer Early Decision?

No. University of Mississippi does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is University of Mississippi really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 68% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Mississippi (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Mississippi?

About 19% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Mississippi — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

Compare University of Mississippi

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