
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $18,667 and the average private school would be $17,275. You can also get information on specific Mississippi schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work

Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at University of Mississippi (2020-21) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $8,828 |
Room and Board | $10,734 |
Books | $1,100 |
Other Expenses | $5,100 |
Total | $25,762 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
---|---|---|
Family Income | MS Public $23,415 | MS Private $32,099 |
$0 - $30k | $11,818 | $11,973 |
$30,001 – $48k | $13,325 | $15,783 |
$48,001 – $75k | $16,160 | $15,220 |
$75,001 – $110k | $18,667 | $17,275 |
$110,001+ | $17,744 | $18,862 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Mississippi public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $-2,000-$3,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Mississippi. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public MS Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,290 $8,176 Room and Board $10,788 $10,890 Books $1,586 $1,606 Other Expenses $3,100 $3,140 Total $22,764 $23,812 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,648 $13,230 $30,001 - $48k $16,044 $16,783 $48,001 - $75k $22,475 $23,510 $75,001 - $110k $22,940 $23,996 $110,001+ $22,940 $23,996 -
Delta State University
Cleveland Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,121 $8,360 Room and Board $7,985 $8,114 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $3,800 $3,800 Total $21,406 $21,774 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,919 $13,141 $30,001 - $48k $13,257 $13,485 $48,001 - $75k $17,001 $17,293 $75,001 - $110k $16,907 $17,198 $110,001+ $15,986 $16,261 -
Jackson State University
Jackson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,445 $8,445 Room and Board $9,900 $10,066 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $5,472 $5,415 Total $25,217 $25,326 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,392 $14,454 $30,001 - $48k $15,698 $15,766 $48,001 - $75k $15,713 $15,781 $75,001 - $110k $19,058 $19,140 $110,001+ $21,024 $21,115 -
University of Mississippi
University Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,828 $9,044 Room and Board $10,734 $11,142 Books $1,100 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,100 $5,570 Total $25,762 $26,956 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,844 $8,208 $30,001 - $48k $10,977 $11,486 $48,001 - $75k $14,700 $15,381 $75,001 - $110k $17,828 $18,654 $110,001+ $18,774 $19,644
-
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,525 $7,756 Room and Board $7,648 $7,908 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $4,415 $4,415 Total $21,188 $21,679 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,562 $10,807 $30,001 - $48k $12,149 $12,431 $48,001 - $75k $10,980 $11,234 $75,001 - $110k $17,141 $17,538 $110,001+ $16,740 $17,128 -
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $6,746 $7,068 Room and Board $7,998 $8,112 Books $2,000 $2,400 Other Expenses $3,571 $3,680 Total $20,315 $21,260 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,014 $10,480 $30,001 - $48k $0 $0 $48,001 - $75k $16,057 $16,804 $75,001 - $110k $0 $0 $110,001+ $8,216 $8,598 -
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,910 $9,220 Room and Board $10,436 $10,630 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $5,358 $5,410 Total $25,904 $26,460 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,594 $13,886 $30,001 - $48k $13,155 $13,437 $48,001 - $75k $17,121 $17,488 $75,001 - $110k $19,546 $19,966 $110,001+ $19,982 $20,411 -
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,896 $9,204 Room and Board $10,937 $10,950 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $3,527 $3,726 Total $24,760 $25,280 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,569 $12,833 $30,001 - $48k $11,995 $12,247 $48,001 - $75k $15,230 $15,550 $75,001 - $110k $17,247 $17,609 $110,001+ $18,293 $18,677
Private MS Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Belhaven University
Jackson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $27,025 $27,825 Room and Board $8,800 $8,950 Books $650 $650 Other Expenses $1,000 $1,000 Total $37,475 $38,425 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,240 $14,601 $30,001 - $48k $25,294 $25,935 $48,001 - $75k $14,235 $14,596 $75,001 - $110k $16,985 $17,416 $110,001+ $17,356 $17,796 -
Blue Mountain College
Blue Mountain Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $15,800 $17,380 Room and Board $7,400 $8,120 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,425 $3,425 Total $27,825 $30,125 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,629 $13,673 $30,001 - $48k $18,857 $20,416 $48,001 - $75k $15,978 $17,299 $75,001 - $110k $17,878 $19,356 $110,001+ $19,080 $20,657 -
Millsaps College
Jackson Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $41,314 $42,960 Room and Board $14,210 $14,210 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,792 $1,800 Total $58,516 $60,170 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,681 $18,181 $30,001 - $48k $20,123 $20,692 $48,001 - $75k $24,490 $25,182 $75,001 - $110k $27,133 $27,900 $110,001+ $28,090 $28,884
-
Mississippi College
Clinton Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $19,308 $20,364 Room and Board $10,950 $11,680 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $4,514 $4,676 Total $36,272 $38,220 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,992 $15,797 $30,001 - $48k $16,728 $17,626 $48,001 - $75k $15,651 $16,492 $75,001 - $110k $21,565 $22,723 $110,001+ $21,177 $22,314 -
Rust College
Holly Springs Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,900 $9,900 Room and Board $4,300 $4,300 Books $250 $250 Other Expenses $2,250 $2,250 Total $16,700 $16,700 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,889 $7,889 $30,001 - $48k $8,399 $8,399 $48,001 - $75k $10,714 $10,714 $75,001 - $110k $9,250 $9,250 $110,001+ $15,292 $15,292 -
Tougaloo College
Tougaloo Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $10,861 $10,861 Room and Board $6,400 $6,400 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $4,440 $4,440 Total $23,101 $23,101 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,058 $8,058 $30,001 - $48k $11,205 $11,205 $48,001 - $75k $13,227 $13,227 $75,001 - $110k $15,840 $15,840 $110,001+ $16,173 $16,173 -
William Carey University
Hattiesburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $13,650 $14,100 Room and Board $6,540 $7,247 Books $1,200 $1,900 Other Expenses $3,417 $6,070 Total $24,807 $29,317 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,321 $9,834 $30,001 - $48k $9,873 $11,668 $48,001 - $75k $12,247 $14,474 $75,001 - $110k $12,277 $14,509 $110,001+ $14,869 $17,572
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