What Colleges and Universities Are in Mississippi?

Updated

Mississippi's higher education landscape includes several public universities, and the largest research institution in the state is Mississippi State University (MSU), headquartered in Starkville. MSU also lists locations in Meridian, Online, and the Gulf Coast, and it offers more than 180 majors for bachelor's degrees, with separate admissions paths for prospective undergraduates and graduate students. If you are researching "colleges in Mississippi," start by separating public universities from similarly named private colleges — most notably Mississippi College, which is a different institution from Mississippi State University.

Mississippi State University at a Glance

Mississippi State University describes itself as a world-class research institution. Its main campus is in Starkville, and its site lists four locations:

| Location | What it means for you | |---|---|---| | Starkville | Main campus; the traditional residential college setting | | Meridian | An additional MSU site for students closer to east-central Mississippi | | Online | Degree and course options delivered remotely | | Gulf Coast | An MSU presence in the coastal region of the state |

The university's welcome page emphasizes an environment where "everyone is welcome" and where students can "thrive, grow together and understand emerging challenges." For prospective students, MSU highlights 180+ majors leading to a bachelor's degree and encourages scheduling a campus visit.

Mississippi State University vs. Mississippi College

This is the most common point of confusion. The names sound alike, but they refer to different schools:

  • Mississippi State University (MSU) — a public research university based in Starkville, with the additional locations above. Its site is msstate.edu.
  • Mississippi College — a separate institution; it is not the same school as Mississippi State University.

If a search result, application portal, or scholarship listing says "Mississippi College," do not assume it is MSU. Check the domain name and the campus address before you submit anything. MSU's own site uses the terms "Mississippi College," "Colleges in Mississippi," and "MS College" as search keywords, which is exactly why the two get mixed up in search results.

How to Compare Mississippi Colleges

Rather than ranking schools by reputation alone, compare them on dimensions you can verify from each institution's official site:

1. Program offerings and degree levels

MSU, for example, offers 180+ majors for bachelor's degrees and maintains distinct pages for prospective undergraduates and prospective graduate students. If you already know your intended field, check whether each candidate school actually offers that major — and at the degree level you want.

2. Campus setting and location

A residential campus in Starkville is a different experience from online study or a regional site like Meridian or the Gulf Coast. Decide whether you need to be on a main campus, close to home, or able to study remotely, then confirm which locations each school actually serves.

3. Admissions path

MSU separates undergraduate admissions from graduate admissions, and its site also links to online education and cost of attendance pages. Use the path that matches your status — a first-year applicant should not be reading graduate admissions requirements, and vice versa.

4. Cost and financial aid

MSU's navigation includes a Cost of Attendance page and a Financial Aid office. Treat published cost figures as starting points and confirm your actual aid package with the financial aid office before committing.

A Practical Checklist Before You Apply

  1. Confirm the institution's identity. Verify the domain and campus address so you are not confusing MSU with Mississippi College or another similarly named school.
  2. Find your major. Use the school's "Find Your Major" or academics listing to confirm your intended program exists.
  3. Choose the right admissions path. Undergraduate, graduate, and online applicants often use different pages and deadlines.
  4. Review cost of attendance and financial aid. Check the official cost page, then contact financial aid about scholarships and aid.
  5. Visit or take a virtual tour. MSU offers campus visits, a welcome center, and a virtual 360 campus tour — use them to test whether the setting fits you.
  6. Request information directly. MSU's site provides a "Request Info" option so you can get current details from admissions staff rather than relying on third-party summaries.

The key takeaway: Mississippi State University is a major public research university in Starkville with additional Meridian, Online, and Gulf Coast locations and 180+ majors — but it is not Mississippi College. Verify each school's official admissions, cost, and visit information before you apply.