Mississippi State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Mississippi State University charges a net price of $17,595/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $70,380. Graduates earn a median $51,513 ten years after entry, $3,153/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 22.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$7,320, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Mississippi State University's 22.3-year payback ranks #1,085 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 15% of them, and #3 of 32 in Mississippi.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $17,595/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $70,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,513 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,153/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,142 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 22.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$7,320 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Mississippi State University's own numbers. Net price $17,595 × 4 years = $70,380 total. Median earnings $51,513 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,153 a year of premium. $70,380 ÷ $3,153 = 22.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$7,320. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Mississippi State University students graduate with?
A median $22,142 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $51,513 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Mississippi State University students graduate?
67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $70,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $105,045 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Mississippi State University expensive compared with other Mississippi colleges?
Its $17,595 net price runs $8,581 above the $9,015 median across the 32 Mississippi colleges we profile, or $34,322 more across the full degree.