Delta State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Delta State University charges a net price of $13,540/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $54,160. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,991, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Delta State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #9 of 32 Mississippi colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,540/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $54,160 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $41,991 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,369/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,390 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$181,540 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Delta State University's own numbers. Net price $13,540 × 4 years = $54,160 total. Median earnings $41,991 fall $6,369 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $54,160 bill in about 5.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Delta State University students graduate with?
A median $20,390 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $41,991 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Delta State University students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $54,160 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $112,833 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Delta State University expensive compared with other Mississippi colleges?
Its $13,540 net price runs $4,526 above the $9,015 median across the 32 Mississippi colleges we profile, or $18,102 more across the full degree.