Best Online Colleges in Mississippi for 2023

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Are you considering enrollment with an online college or university in Mississippi? The state offers many distance learning opportunities for prospective students, with degrees available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. Availability will depend, however, upon the major selected and 100% remote doctorate programs may be less common. Some subject areas are also more prevalent than others, but students can expect plenty of variety.

While Mississippi is home to many traditional, on-campus options, there are several benefits associated with earning online degrees. Specific employment opportunities vary based on the major selected, as well as the level of education attained, but distance learning programs adequately prepare students for professional employment. Those who have attended online colleges will fare better than those who lack degrees when applying for jobs, as graduates are often considered more qualified and capable no matter how they graduated. Other benefits include improved job security and higher wage potential. Additionally, online programs often offer more flexible scheduling, making it easy for individuals working full-time to continue their education.

Those who graduate with online degrees in Mississippi can expect to have more employment opportunities than those who do not earn degrees at all. As of March 2022, the state’s civilian labor force was 1,259,602. Of those, 1,206,715 were employed, leaving 52,887 without jobs. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.2, down significantly from a high of 15.4 in April 2020. Notably, the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in the last ten years.

As of May 2020, Mississippi had a mean hourly wage of $16.86 and an annual mean wage of $42,700. This is significantly below the national average of $56,310 for all occupations. Notably, however, having a degree at all can help increase earning potential and may result in more lucrative employment opportunities. Additionally, some industries pay more than others. The highest paying jobs in the state include chief executives, engineers, nurse science managers, physicists, postsecondary educators, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, and family medicine physicians.

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Online Higher Education in Mississippi


As of the 2020-2021 academic year, the total student population in Mississippi was 165,790. This includes 142,167 undergraduate and 23,623 graduate school students. Of these, 41,277 students were enrolled online exclusively, while an additional 67,263 students were enrolled in some online courses. This means that over 65% of undergraduate and graduate students in the state took at least one online class during the 2020-2021 academic year.

In general, Mississippi residents pay less to attend online colleges than out-of-state students. The average cost of tuition and fees for those attending from in-state was $4,769 in 2022. Students from other states paid more, however, with an average yearly tuition and fee commitment of $8,239.

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It’s worth noting that some colleges and universities charge lower tuition rates for students enrolled in online classes. Remote learning may also result in fewer fees and other costs associated with earning degrees. For example, many institutions charge on-campus students for room, board, parking, activities, and some services. Opting to attend classes online will not eliminate the need for housing and food, but certain circumstances can result in these expenses being lower. Additionally, remote learners still qualify for financial aid. All prospective students should complete and submit the FAFSA to their institution.

Our School Rankings Methodology


Prospective students can use college and university rankings as a tool to help determine which academic programs suit their personal and professional goals best. The information provided can make selecting a school and degree programs significantly easier.

We ensure accuracy and applicability for students of all kinds by utilizing a proprietary ratings system to rank colleges and universities with the best online college programs in Mississippi.

Some of the data types utilized to generate our rankings include:

  • Graduation Rate
  • Net Price
  • Average Graduate Salary
  • Retention Rate
  • Reputation
  • Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Our goal is to provide pertinent data that keeps students informed, allowing them to make the best academic decisions possible. We perform thorough investigations and assessments to develop a list of top online programs available in the state. Additionally, our team only includes properly accredited colleges and universities offering credible online courses. We also carefully consider the overall quality and affordability of each institution prior to releasing our findings.

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What are the Best Online Associate & Community College Programs in Mississippi?


There are many online community college programs available in Mississippi. These institutions typically offer associate-level degrees with majors available in wide variety of areas. Community colleges are known for offering flexible learning solutions, as well as affordable tuition and fee rates. This can be particularly helpful for students working full- or part-time jobs already or who want to enter the workforce as soon as possible.

Graduates with online community college degrees can either apply for employment or transfer the credits they have earned to other four-year institutions. Associate degrees generally consist of 60 credit hours, which is approximately half of the credits needed to complete traditional, four-year bachelor’s degrees. Most institutions will accept up to 60 or 90 transfer credits, making attending a community college a good way to jumpstart upper-level degrees. However, it’s important for prospective students to always verify the accreditation status of their online community college as it is easiest to transfer credits with regional accreditation.

Itawamba Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
4,696
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$5,042
Grads Salary
$31,500
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
2,907
Graduation Rate
51%
Net Price
$4,875
Grads Salary
$29,100
Hinds Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
11,181
Graduation Rate
39%
Net Price
$4,045
Grads Salary
$29,200
Southwest Mississippi Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
1,888
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$5,051
Grads Salary
$28,400
Northeast Mississippi Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
3,243
Graduation Rate
38%
Net Price
$5,861
Grads Salary
$32,253
Pearl River Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
5,065
Graduation Rate
38%
Net Price
$5,047
Grads Salary
$30,261
Holmes Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
5,409
Graduation Rate
41%
Net Price
$6,045
Grads Salary
$29,100
Northwest Mississippi Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
7,092
Graduation Rate
34%
Net Price
$6,459
Grads Salary
$32,696
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
8,677
Graduation Rate
41%
Net Price
$7,074
Grads Salary
$31,000
Jones County Junior College
College Type
2-year, Public
Student Population
4,536
Graduation Rate
36%
Net Price
$6,157
Grads Salary
$30,800
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What are the Best Online Universities & College Programs in Mississippi?


Mississippi is home to many colleges and universities that offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees online. Distance learning options mean students from all around the world can take advantages of these programs. These institutions make it easy for students to obtain the knowledge, skills, and academic experience needed to be successful in their chosen fields.

Online degree programs in Mississippi may be particularly appealing to non-traditional students working full-time already or who have other obligations that prevent them from attending classes in person. Flexible scheduling and learning options, coupled with reasonable tuitions rates, can make this an ideal way to obtain the education necessary to be professionally successful. Prospective students should, however, always verify institutional accreditation status prior to enrolling.

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University of Mississippi
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
21,014
Graduation Rate
67%
Net Price
$13,540
Grads Salary
$64,000
Mississippi State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
22,986
Graduation Rate
64%
Net Price
$16,402
Grads Salary
$69,000
University of Southern Mississippi
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
14,606
Graduation Rate
50%
Net Price
$14,794
Grads Salary
$64,000
Delta State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
2,999
Graduation Rate
39%
Net Price
$14,299
Grads Salary
$66,000
Mississippi College
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
4,667
Graduation Rate
65%
Net Price
$18,800
Grads Salary
$62,000
Mississippi University for Women
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
2,704
Graduation Rate
46%
Net Price
$13,023
Grads Salary
$60,000
Jackson State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
6,921
Graduation Rate
44%
Net Price
$14,915
Grads Salary
$63,000
Mississippi Valley State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
2,032
Graduation Rate
27%
Net Price
$11,064
Grads Salary
$53,000
Blue Mountain College
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit
Student Population
952
Graduation Rate
51%
Net Price
$13,682
Grads Salary
$46,000
Alcorn State University
College Type
4-year, Public
Student Population
3,230
Graduation Rate
45%
Net Price
$17,938
Grads Salary
$58,000
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