Best College ROI in Ms 2026
16 colleges in Ms analyzed for return on investment. Mississippi Valley State University leads with a ROI Score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ms has 16 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 8 public institutions and 8 private ones. Across the 16 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $87K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ms colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Mississippi Valley State University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ms
Mississippi Valley State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ms's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $21K in median debt.
Rust College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Science. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Blue Mountain Christian University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $23K.
Top 16 Colleges by ROI in Ms
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi Valley State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 2 | Rust College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Blue Mountain Christian University(private) | Mathematics | $23K | $78K | A (95) |
| 4 | Millsaps College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 5 | Mississippi College(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Mississippi State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Alcorn State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 8 | Tougaloo College(private) | Computer Science | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 9 | Belhaven University(private) | Computer Science | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 10 | Mississippi University for Women(public) | Mathematics | $26K | $78K | A (93) |
| 11 | William Carey University(private) | Mathematics | $26K | $78K | A (93) |
| 12 | University of Southern Mississippi(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $28K | $95K | A (92) |
| 13 | Jackson State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $31K | $95K | A (91) |
| 14 | University of Mississippi(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 15 | Southeastern Baptist College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 16 | Delta State University(public) | Marketing | $29K | $65K | B (77) |
College debt and earnings data for Ms is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mississippi Valley State University has the best ROI in Ms with a score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $21K in median debt.
Across 16 Ms colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $87K.
Mississippi Valley State University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ms has 16 colleges in our database (8 public, 8 private). Of the 16 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).