Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2024

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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

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  1. University of Mississippi
  2. Mississippi State University
  3. University of Southern Mississippi
  4. Jackson State University
  5. Mississippi College
  6. William Carey University
  1. University of Mississippi
  2. Mississippi State University
  3. Jackson State University
  4. University of Southern Mississippi
  5. Mississippi College
  6. William Carey University
  1. University of Southern Mississippi 99%
  2. University of Mississippi 97%
  3. Jackson State University 89%
  4. Mississippi State University 75%
  5. William Carey University 54%
  6. Mississippi College 40%
  1. University of Mississippi 16 to 1
  2. Mississippi State University 16 to 1
  3. University of Southern Mississippi 15 to 1
  4. Jackson State University 15 to 1
  5. Mississippi College 13 to 1
  6. William Carey University 13 to 1
  1. Mississippi College $21,098
  2. William Carey University $14,685
  3. University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
  4. Mississippi State University $9,248
  5. University of Mississippi $9,072
  6. Jackson State University $8,270
  1. Mississippi College $12,510
  2. William Carey University $12,312
  3. Mississippi State University $9,398
  4. University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
  5. University of Mississippi $9,072
  6. Jackson State University $8,270
  1. William Carey University
  2. Mississippi College
  3. Jackson State University
  4. University of Southern Mississippi
  5. Mississippi State University
  6. University of Mississippi
  1. William Carey University
  2. Mississippi College
  3. University of Southern Mississippi
  4. Jackson State University
  5. Mississippi State University
  6. University of Mississippi
  1. Mississippi College 40%
  2. William Carey University 54%
  3. Mississippi State University 75%
  4. Jackson State University 89%
  5. University of Mississippi 97%
  6. University of Southern Mississippi 99%
  1. Mississippi College 13 to 1
  2. William Carey University 13 to 1
  3. University of Southern Mississippi 15 to 1
  4. Jackson State University 15 to 1
  5. University of Mississippi 16 to 1
  6. Mississippi State University 16 to 1
  1. Jackson State University $8,270
  2. University of Mississippi $9,072
  3. Mississippi State University $9,248
  4. University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
  5. William Carey University $14,685
  6. Mississippi College $21,098
  1. Jackson State University $8,270
  2. University of Mississippi $9,072
  3. University of Southern Mississippi $9,340
  4. Mississippi State University $9,398
  5. William Carey University $12,312
  6. Mississippi College $12,510

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?

Mississippi’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

Mississippi's Best Research Universities Badge
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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).

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Best Research Universities in Mississippi 2023

  1. #1

    University of Mississippi

    University , MS
    Other Rankings

    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: $9,220
    Expenses: $18,690
    Starting Salary: $56,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Mississippi

    Cost of Degree: $9,450
    Expenses: $16,550
    Starting Salary: $42,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    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
  3. Other Rankings

    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: $8,445
    Expenses: $21,078
    Starting Salary: $33,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    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
  4. #5

    Mississippi College

    Clinton , MS
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $21K

    Acceptance

    40%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi College

    Cost of Degree: $21,098
    Expenses: $18,329
    Starting Salary: $44,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    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
  5. #6

    William Carey University

    Hattiesburg , MS
    Other Rankings

    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: $16,248
    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:

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

  1. University of Mississippi
  2. Mississippi College
  3. Mississippi State University
  4. University of Southern Mississippi
  5. William Carey University

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

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