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Mississippi State Capitol Building (26815684617)Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colleges in and near Jackson

Jackson is home to four colleges, with 6,854 students on campus

Jackson State University (4,022 students on campus) and Belhaven University (1,495) are inside the city. About 9% of Jackson’s residents are enrolled in college, above Mississippi (6%).

Jackson State University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Jackson. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
17,363 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Jackson State
Residents in college
9%
Above MS (6%)
Nearest community college
12.6 mi
Hinds · $4,250 tuition
Nearest public university
1.4 mi
Jackson State · $8,965 in-state
Median household income
$42K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Jackson

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in JacksonJackson State University has 4,022 students on campus in Jackson, 51% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Jackson StateLiving in Mississippi, Jackson State University charges $8,965 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $11,965. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 12.6 miles awayHinds Community College in Raymond: tuition and fees $4,250 a year for Mississippi residents.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Mississippi (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Jackson

Four private colleges within 7 miles, one public college within 1.4 miles, and Hinds Community College 12.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miHindsJackson StateMississippi CollegeJackson
University or collegeCommunity college
Jackson State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 4,022 on campus · In Jackson93%admitted$24knet price51%graduate$39kearningsMillsaps CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 626 on campus · In Jackson43%admitted$26knet price57%graduate$54kearningsBelhaven UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,495 on campus · In Jackson · mostly online50%admitted$16knet price49%graduate$46kearnings59% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tougaloo CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 711 on campus · In Jackson60%admitted$17knet price33%graduate$35kearningsMississippi CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,551 on campus · 7 mi · Clinton29%admitted$28knet price59%graduate$47kearningsHinds Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,958 on campus · 12.6 mi · Raymond$4knet price43%graduate$31kearningsTuition and fees: $4,250 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Jackson’s median household income ($42,071) falls.

Hinds Community College12.6 mi · Raymond · sticker $11,036 · tuition $4,250$3,994a year
Belhaven UniversityIn Jackson · mostly online · sticker $39,793$12,820a year
Tougaloo CollegeIn Jackson · sticker $24,239$17,523a year
Jackson State UniversityIn Jackson · sticker $32,415$22,516a year
Millsaps CollegeIn Jackson · sticker $60,061$23,719a year
Mississippi College7 mi · Clinton · sticker $41,214$25,743a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Jackson: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Jackson StateMillsaps CollegeTougaloo CollegeMississippi CollegeHinds
Hinds Community College43% graduate$31k earnings$9k typical debt
Jackson State University51% graduate$39k earnings$30k typical debt
Mississippi College59% graduate$47k earnings$22k typical debt
Belhaven University49% graduate$46k earnings$26k typical debt
Tougaloo College33% graduate$35k earnings$30k typical debt
Millsaps College57% graduate$54k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Jackson

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Jackson’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 15%Education 12%Biology 11%Interdisciplinary 8%Health professions 8%Public safety 6%Everything else 40%

Biggest programs

Biology, GeneralJackson State University · 99 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out
Social WorkJackson State University · 62 graduates a year
$42k4 yrs out
Education, OtherJackson State University · 55 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsJackson State University · 55 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesJackson State University · 48 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsJackson State University · 47 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesJackson State University · 42 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralJackson State University · 35 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Belhaven University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Jackson

Is Jackson a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Jackson residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Mississippi (6). The largest campus in the city, Jackson State University, has 4,022 students on campus.

What colleges are in Jackson?

Jackson State University, Belhaven University, Tougaloo College and Millsaps College are inside the city. Hinds Community College is 12.6 miles away in Raymond.

What is the closest community college to Jackson, and what does it cost?

Hinds Community College in Raymond, 12.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,250 a year for Mississippi residents; the federal net price, $4,060, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Jackson State University cost if we live in Mississippi?

Tuition and fees are $8,965 a year in-state and $11,965 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $22,869 (under $30,000 income) to $27,576 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Jackson. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →