Mississippi State is a college town: 100 of every 100 residents are students
Mississippi State University (18,908 students on campus) is inside the town. Across Mississippi State, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.
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 Mississippi State. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Mississippi State
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
What it’s like to live in Mississippi State
How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.
100 of every 100 Mississippi State residents are in college (MS: 6).
How students change Mississippi State’s other numbers
Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →
The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (100% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Mississippi State’s median age is 19.1 (Mississippi State 38.6), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
Colleges within 15 miles of Mississippi State
It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Mississippi State.
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 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.
Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Mississippi State.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Mississippi State: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
What students study in Mississippi State
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Mississippi State University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
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.
Questions about college in Mississippi State
Is Mississippi State a college town?
Yes. 100 of every 100 Mississippi State residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Mississippi State. Mississippi State University has 18,908 students on campus, next to 4,655 residents.
What colleges are in Mississippi State?
Mississippi State University is inside the town. East Mississippi Community College is 46.5 miles away in Scooba.
What is the closest community college to Mississippi State, and what does it cost?
East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, 46.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,095 a year for Mississippi State residents; the federal net price, $4,608, counts housing and food at full cost.
How hard is it to get into Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University admitted 78% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,100–1,350 on the SAT.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Mississippi State. 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 →