Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2024

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN MISSISSIPPI RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Interested in attending a STEM school in Mississippi? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2024

University of Mississippi
Mississippi State University
University of Southern Mississippi
Jackson State University
Mississippi College
William Carey University

University of Mississippi
Mississippi State University
Jackson State University
University of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi College
William Carey University

University of Southern Mississippi 99%
University of Mississippi 97%
Jackson State University 89%
Mississippi State University 75%
William Carey University 54%
Mississippi College 40%

Mississippi State University 16 to 1
University of Mississippi 16 to 1
University of Southern Mississippi 15 to 1
Jackson State University 15 to 1
William Carey University 13 to 1
Mississippi College 13 to 1

Mississippi College $21,098
William Carey University $14,685
University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
Mississippi State University $9,248
University of Mississippi $9,072
Jackson State University $8,270

Mississippi College $12,510
William Carey University $12,312
Mississippi State University $9,398
University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
University of Mississippi $9,072
Jackson State University $8,270

William Carey University
Mississippi College
Jackson State University
University of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi State University
University of Mississippi

William Carey University
Mississippi College
University of Southern Mississippi
Jackson State University
Mississippi State University
University of Mississippi

Mississippi College 40%
William Carey University 54%
Mississippi State University 75%
Jackson State University 89%
University of Mississippi 97%
University of Southern Mississippi 99%

William Carey University 13 to 1
Mississippi College 13 to 1
University of Southern Mississippi 15 to 1
Jackson State University 15 to 1
Mississippi State University 16 to 1
University of Mississippi 16 to 1

Jackson State University $8,270
University of Mississippi $9,072
Mississippi State University $9,248
University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
William Carey University $14,685
Mississippi College $21,098

Jackson State University $8,270
University of Mississippi $9,072
University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
Mississippi State University $9,398
William Carey University $12,312
Mississippi College $12,510

Table of Contents

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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

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?

Mississippi’s Best Overall

How do we determine Mississippi's best research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 6 research universities in Mississippi. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2023

#1
University of Mississippi
University , MS
#1 Best Public Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
68%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/25
Career Outlook for degree at University of Mississippi
Cost of Degree: $9,412
Expenses: $19,540
Starting Salary: $56,600
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Mississippi known for?

University of Mississippi’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Criminal Justice
Law
History
Political Science
Medical
Business
Literature
Communications
Earth Sciences
Education

Most Influential Alumni

William Faulkner
James Meredith
John Grisham
James M. Robinson
Garth Fisher
William Eggleston
Dumas Malone
Robert Tollison
Mahesh Bhupathi
Trent Lott
Thomas Zacharia
James E. Darnell
Compare school
#2
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State , MS
#2 Best Public Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
63%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/25
Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi State University
Cost of Degree: $9,815
Expenses: $19,639
Starting Salary: $47,400
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Mississippi State University known for?

Mississippi State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
Engineering
Chemistry
History
Computer Science
Biology
Business
Physics
Anthropology
Economics

Most Influential Alumni

John Grisham
Earl J. Hamilton
James E. Cofer
Gregory Keyes
John C. Stennis
Rafael Palmeiro
Sundaraja Sitharama Iyengar
Buck Showalter
Byron Miranda
Dak Prescott
Richard Carson
Erick Dampier
Compare school
#3
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg , MS
#3 Best Public Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #4 Best Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #4 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2024 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Mississippi 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
52%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Mississippi
Cost of Degree: $9,618
Expenses: $17,484
Starting Salary: $42,700
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Southern Mississippi known for?

University of Southern Mississippi’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Mathematics
Criminal Justice
History
Anthropology
Earth Sciences
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Literature
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Russell D. Moore
Mack Brown
Marek W. Urban
Phil Bryant
Hank M. Bounds
Chad Bradford
T. R. Hummer
Robert Hyatt
Tom Malone
Michael Knight
Walter Maestri
M. C. Gainey
University of Southern Mississippi’s Online Degrees
BSBA in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Construction Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSBA in Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Applied Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Elementary Education

Degree Concentrations
Teacher Assistant

Required Credits: 121
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BLS in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Library And Information Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Sociology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Philosophy

Required Credits: 124
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Public Health

Degree Concentrations
Allied Health

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Medical Laboratory Science

Degree Concentrations
Mlt To Mls

Required Credits: 124
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Child And Family Sciences

Required Credits: 124
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Jackson State University
Jackson , MS
#9 Best HBCU Online Master's Programs #22 Most Influential HBCUs in the US Ranked for 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
35%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1141/18
Career Outlook for degree at Jackson State University
Cost of Degree: $8,795
Expenses: $23,898
Starting Salary: $33,700
Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Jackson State University known for?

Jackson State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Criminal Justice
Social Work
Political Science
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
History
Medical
Education
Communications
Literature

Most Influential Alumni

James Meredith
Walter Payton
Kiese Laymon
DeMarco Morgan
Bennie Thompson
Cassandra Wilson
Bill Evans
Wilma King
Junaid Hafeez
Virgia Brocks-Shedd
Jackson State University’s Online Degrees
BST in Technology-Emergency Management

Required Credits: 124
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 122
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Professional Interdisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 124
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: 122
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Mississippi College
Clinton , MS
#12 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #16 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #2 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2025
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
40%
Graduation
62%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi College
Cost of Degree: $21,698
Expenses: $19,667
Starting Salary: $44,900
Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Mississippi College known for?

Mississippi College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Chemistry
Psychology
Social Work
Law
Sociology
History
Medical
Mathematics
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Barry Hannah
Horace Newcomb
Robert C. Robbins
James R. Dow
Ross Barnett
Alston Callahan
Walter Gordy
Phil Bryant
Griffith Baley Price
William Hailey Willis
James J. Cooke
William N. Still Jr.
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
Compare school
#6
William Carey University
Hattiesburg , MS
#4 Best Christian Colleges in Mississippi 2025 #4 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Mississippi 2025 #7 Best Grad Schools in Mississippi 2024
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
54%
Graduation
42%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/24
Career Outlook for degree at William Carey University
Cost of Degree: $14,685
Expenses: $16,383
Starting Salary: $40,500
Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is William Carey University known for?

William Carey University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Communications
Religious Studies
Literature
Biology
Criminal Justice
Medical
Education
History
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Argile Smith
John Stephenson
Michael Parker
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
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Mississippi for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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 research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2024

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2024

Colleges and Universities in Mississippi

What are Mississippi’s Colleges & Universities?

Mississippi’s Best Overall

Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2023

University of Mississippi

Career Outlook for degree at University of Mississippi

Most Influential Alumni

Mississippi State University

Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi State University

Most Influential Alumni

University of Southern Mississippi

Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Mississippi

Most Influential Alumni

University of Southern Mississippi’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Jackson State University

Career Outlook for degree at Jackson State University

Most Influential Alumni

Jackson State University’s Online Degrees

Mississippi College

Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi College

Most Influential Alumni

Mississippi College’s Online Degrees

William Carey University

Career Outlook for degree at William Carey University

Most Influential Alumni

William Carey University’s Online Degrees

Find the Best Research Universities in Mississippi for Your Area of Interest