Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Mississippi.
Best Private Colleges in Mississippi
- Rust College 30%
- Rust College 38%
- Blue Mountain College 17 to 1
- Mississippi College 15 to 1
- William Carey University 14 to 1
- Tougaloo College 11 to 1
- Millsaps College 9 to 1
- Belhaven University 8 to 1
- Rust College 6 to 1
- Millsaps College $42,960
- Belhaven University $27,825
- Mississippi College $20,364
- Blue Mountain College $17,380
- William Carey University $14,100
- Tougaloo College $10,861
- Rust College $9,900
- Millsaps College $23,568
- Mississippi College $12,060
- William Carey University $11,875
- Blue Mountain College $11,535
- Belhaven University $10,530
- Tougaloo College $10,134
- Rust College 30%
- Rust College 38%
- Rust College 6 to 1
- Belhaven University 8 to 1
- Millsaps College 9 to 1
- Tougaloo College 11 to 1
- William Carey University 14 to 1
- Mississippi College 15 to 1
- Blue Mountain College 17 to 1
- Rust College $9,900
- Tougaloo College $10,861
- William Carey University $14,100
- Blue Mountain College $17,380
- Mississippi College $20,364
- Belhaven University $27,825
- Millsaps College $42,960
- Tougaloo College $10,134
- Belhaven University $10,530
- Blue Mountain College $11,535
- William Carey University $11,875
- Mississippi College $12,060
- Millsaps College $23,568
Colleges and Universities in Mississippi
The majority of the learning institutes in Mississippi are public schools, with the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, being the largest. This university, located in Oxford, boasts alumni like William Faulkner, John Grisham, and James Meredith. Tuition at Ole Miss runs about $9,000, just below the national average. The eight private colleges, all of which have religious affiliations, range in tuition costs from $10,000 at Rust College to $40,000 at Millsaps College.
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Students who attend these schools have the option to pursue degrees in fields like nursing, business, dentistry, Christian ministry, education, and literature. Additionally, all of these private schools are considered small schools, serving under 5,000 students. Mississippi also offers up to $12,000 of undergraduate loan forgiveness, over the course of four years, for teachers who work in designated shortage areas or who teach in critical shortage subjects, like special education or mathematics.
From Mississippi mud pie to fried chicken, Mississippi brings a whole new meaning to the term comfort food.
The Magnolia State is easy on the eyes too. With nearly endless forests spilling over with hickory, pine, and oak trees, the intricate river system, and the Gulf Island National Seashore, Mississippi is a true destination for lovers of outdoor adventure. And students who plan on earning their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Mississippi have 31 colleges and universities to choose from.
Explore some of the top schools and career paths Mississippi has to offer.
What are Mississippi’s Colleges & Universities?
- 6 Research Universities
- 9 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 8 Graduate Schools
- 8 Public Colleges & Universities
- 7 Private Colleges & Universities
- 7 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 11 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 12 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 15 Community Colleges
- 8 Online Colleges
Mississippi’s Best Overall
What is the difference between public and private colleges?
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 7 private universities in Mississippi. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Mississippi, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
Best Private Colleges in Mississippi
- #16 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2023 #21 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #1 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
63%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/25
What is Mississippi College known for?
Mississippi College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Mississippi College’s Online Degrees
BSBA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 130
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Loss Prevention
- Required Credits: 130
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Homeland Security
- Required Credits: 130
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Paralegal Studies
- Required Credits: 130
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Communication
- Required Credits: 130
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #22 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #3 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
62%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1177/24
What is Millsaps College known for?
Millsaps College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Earth Sciences
- Philosophy
- History
- Literature
- Religious Studies
- Economics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Chemistry
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship #3 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
34%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
865/18
What is Tougaloo College known for?
Tougaloo College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #4 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2023 #7 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2023 #7 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
60%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1190/23
What is William Carey University known for?
William Carey University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
William Carey University’s Online Degrees
BS in Physical Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Health, Physical Education And Recreation
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #8 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2023 #8 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
54%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/21
What is Belhaven University known for?
Belhaven University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Nursing
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Business
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
Belhaven University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BBA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Hospitality Management
- Information Technology
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Management
Degree Concentrations
- Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Biblical Studies
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Services
Degree Concentrations
- Christian Ministries
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing
Degree Concentrations
- Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 31
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Health Administration
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship #6 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Mississippi 2023 #9 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
38%
Graduation
27%
Student body
<1K
What is Rust College known for?
Rust College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Literature
- Political Science
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Education
- Business
- Social Work
- Criminal Justice
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
58%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/20
What is Blue Mountain College known for?
Blue Mountain College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Communications
- History
- Psychology
- Education
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Religious Studies
- Criminal Justice
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
Blue Mountain College’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-123
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Mississippi’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.
