Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Mississippi State University at a Glance
Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production".
1878
148 years old
$1.0B
$1 billion (2025)
23,150
1,359
4,200 acres
Identity
Is Mississippi State University Worth It?
Mississippi State University offers moderate value at $17,595/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $51,513, which is 4% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 65% graduation rate means roughly 35% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Mississippi State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #41 of 77 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #4 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #5 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #6 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #41 | Mississippi State University | 47 | $17,595 | $51,513 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Mississippi State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Mississippi State University
The highest-earning program at Mississippi State University is Chemical Engineering at $74,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at $19,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Chemical Engineering graduate from Mississippi State University earns $74,200, while a Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduate earns $19,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Chemical Engineering graduates carry $22,000 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,595/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $74,200 | $74,200 | $22,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $70,800 | $70,800 | $23,800 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,300 | $70,300 | $22,975 |
| Industrial Engineering | $67,000 | $67,000 | $26,185 |
| Civil Engineering | $53,500 | $53,500 | $23,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $51,000 | $51,000 | $25,770 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $47,200 | $47,200 | $27,000 |
| Architecture | $46,700 | $46,700 | $31,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $23,380 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $42,500 | $42,500 | $24,875 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $40,900 | $40,900 | $19,500 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $40,600 | $40,600 | $27,200 |
| Marketing | $37,800 | $37,800 | $20,625 |
| Forestry | $37,500 | $37,500 | $18,791 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $37,100 | $37,100 | $15,875 |
| Plant Sciences | $35,600 | $35,600 | $19,844 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,600 | $33,600 | $19,358 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $33,300 | $33,300 | $24,625 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $33,100 | $33,100 | $21,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $33,000 | $33,000 | $25,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,100 | $32,100 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $32,100 | $32,100 | $24,495 |
| Biology, General | $31,700 | $31,700 | $25,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,300 | $31,300 | $23,125 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $31,000 | $31,000 | $22,417 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $30,200 | $30,200 | $28,749 |
| Criminology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $23,437 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $27,400 | $27,400 | $23,000 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $27,200 | $27,200 | $23,625 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,700 | $26,700 | $24,845 |
| Social Work | $26,700 | $26,700 | $21,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $24,800 | $24,800 | $25,250 |
| History | $24,600 | $24,600 | $24,125 |
| Psychology, General | $22,400 | $22,400 | $23,250 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $21,800 | $21,800 | $27,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in MS
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Mississippi State, MS
- Student Body
- 18,397 students
- Admission Rate
- 78%
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,595
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $51,513
- Median Student Debt
- $22,142