Mississippi Valley State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Mississippi Valley State University charges a net price of $9,686/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $38,744. Median earnings ten years after entry are $31,919, 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, Mississippi Valley State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #28 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) | $9,686/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $38,744 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $31,919 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$16,441/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $28,413 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$367,564 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Mississippi Valley State University's own numbers. Net price $9,686 × 4 years = $38,744 total. Median earnings $31,919 fall $16,441 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 $38,744 bill in about 3.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Mississippi Valley State University students graduate with?
A median $28,413 in federal loans among completers, or 89% of the $31,919 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Mississippi Valley State University students graduate?
27% finish their degree — 73% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $38,744 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $143,496 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Mississippi Valley State University expensive compared with other Mississippi colleges?
Its $9,686 net price runs $672 above the $9,015 median across the 32 Mississippi colleges we profile, or $2,686 more across the full degree.