Best Online Master’s Programs in Mississippi 2025

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN MISSISSIPPI

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Sep 11, 2024

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Mississippi in 2025

University of Mississippi
Mississippi State University
Jackson State University
+1
University of Southern Mississippi
–1
Mississippi College
Alcorn State University
+2
Mississippi University for Women
Delta State University
–2
William Carey University
Belhaven University

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or last ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the University of Southern Mississippi and Delta State University lost ranking positions, while Alcorn State University moved up in the rankings. The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University remained in their top respective positions.

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Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s Program in Mississippi 2023

Mississippi is vastly known for its rich history, vibrant culture, agriculture, and tourism. The state is also gaining more popularity for moving to the forefront of the digital learning revolution.

Mississippi has an increasing number of online colleges. The state’s online degree programs stand out for their affordability and variety of online degree programs.

These programs in Mississippi online colleges provide an affordable method for online learners to obtain a master’s degree without compromising quality or convenience. The flexible online programs allow students to obtain their MBA whether they live in Mississippi or are considering studying from another state.

Colleges and Universities in Mississippi

The majority of the colleges and universities 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.

There are eight private colleges in Mississippi, all of which have religious affiliations, including top-ranked online colleges like William Carey University and Mississippi College.

Find college admissions consultants in Mississippi.

Students who attend these online colleges 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.

What are Mississippi’s Colleges & Universities?

Mississippi’s Best Overall

Online master’s degrees from the best accredited online colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you will get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees in Mississippi

Cost for an online master’s degree in Mississippi varies on several factors, including residency, institution type, program type, and type of grad school you attend. According to NCES data, the average tuition and fees for graduate schools is $19,749.

Students in Mississippi can expect the average tuition, including fees, at different types of online colleges to be:

Average Tuition at Public Institutions: $12,394
Average Tuition at Private Institutions: $26,621

An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses for technology and specialized training needed for online instruction.

But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.

Many online colleges also have accelerated online programs. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning a master’s degree through accelerated online programs can save you money on tuition.

Out-state students may be eligible for in-state tuition rates at some schools in Mississippi. Each system of colleges and universities has its own rules and regulations.

But in most circumstances, a student must prove that they are a resident of Mississippi to be eligible for in-state tuition rates. Residency criteria typically includes proof that the student plans to make Mississippi their permanent home and being there for a predetermined amount of time (usually 12 months or more).

Some states participate in reciprocity agreements with other states or regions, allowing candidates of those areas to pay in-state or reduced tuition rates at educational institutions in the participating agreement. Out-of-state students may benefit from these agreements, although they are sometimes restricted to particular universities or programs.

Other factors that may qualify you for in-state tuition as an out-of-state student include Academic or Athletic Scholarships and Military Affiliation.

Students may qualify for in-state tuition in Mississippi due to exceptional circumstances, such as financial difficulty, refugee status, or other conditions. This instance is rare, but it does happen.

If this is your first time taking an online course in Mississippi, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.

You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online colleges in Mississippi, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college in Mississippi, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and a technical savvy.

The advantages of taking online classes in Mississippi are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work.

In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.

And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occurs in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great tips for online education beginners.

Resources for Mississippi Online Master’s Degree Students

Online master’s degree students in Mississippi can use various resources to support their academic and professional goals. The most popular student resources in Mississippi include:

Get2College

This group is part of the Woodward Hines Education Foundation. It provides free counseling to prospective Mississippi college students. Students attending online colleges in Mississippi can participate in webinars and virtual workshops and get assistance with the FAFSA through this website.

Mississippi Department of Education

This government website provides access to resources for both new and returning students, lists of Mississippi universities, and information on financial aid.

Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid

This federal agency aids prospective students looking to attend online colleges in Mississippi. As you complete your Mississippi assistance application, you can contact counselors and administrators using this website.

Mississippi’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Mississippi 2025

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Mississippi in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s Program in Mississippi 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at University of Mississippi

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Career Outlook for degree at Mississippi State University

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Career Outlook for degree at Delta State University

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Colleges and Universities in Mississippi

What are Mississippi’s Colleges & Universities?

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees in Mississippi

How much does an online master’s degree in Mississippi cost?

Can out-of-state students qualify for in-state tuition in Mississippi?

What can I expect from an online college course at the online colleges in Mississippi?

Will employers in Mississippi respect my online degree?

What are the advantages of online colleges in Mississippi?

What are the disadvantages of online colleges in Mississippi?

Resources for Mississippi Online Master’s Degree Students

Mississippi’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest