Online Degrees In Mississippi (MS)

When it comes to the education level of its citizens, Mississippi lags behind the nation. The Lumina Foundation’s 2019 A Stronger Nation report on college attainment says that by 2025, 60 percent of Americans is likely to need some education credential beyond high school. Mississippi’s current rate of attainment is 41 percent, which falls behind the national average of 47.6 percent.

This may be due, at least partially, to its rural makeup. Of Mississippi’s 2.98 million residents, more than half (about 54 percent) live in officially designated rural areas. Though the state is home to 60 postsecondary institutions, the majority of these are located in urban centers, making it difficult for many of these rural residents to attend classes.

The benefits of earning these postsecondary credentials include higher rates of employment, higher salaries and even better health. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) says that between 2016 and 2030, workers with a high school education or less are likely to see more jobs lost than gained, while many more jobs are likely to be created for workers with a bachelor’s degree or more. And The Chronicle of Higher Education estimates that people with bachelor’s degrees earn $32,000 more per year on average than their high-school-diploma-only counterparts.

Earning an online education in Mississippi can help reduce geographic and scheduling barriers to a college degree while also providing opportunity for greater employment and salary potential.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Mississippi

Whether you’ve recently graduated from high school or a mid-career professional looking to complete a degree or upgrade your credentials, we can help you in your online degree search. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and a methodology that considers factors such as number of online programs, tuition, graduation rates, student services and more, we’ve developed this list of the top 10 Mississippi colleges that offer online degree programs.

Top Online Degree Programs in Mississippi

Drawing upon NCES data about online degree offerings around the state, we’ve composed this list of the top online degree programs in Mississippi, which may be offered fully or partially online at the associate, bachelor’s or graduate level.

Quality of Online Education in Mississippi

As Mississippi’s lawmakers and educational leaders strive to improve the college-going rate in the state, they’re taking steps to ensure that the state’s schools offer the quality and rigor needed to attract greater numbers of students. This commitment can be seen in Mississippi’s membership in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the SREB.

Twenty-nine colleges and universities in Mississippi participate in NC-SARA, a voluntary membership agreement in which states agree to observe best practices and follow processes that ensure consistent quality in their distance education offerings across state lines.

The SREB is the nation’s first interstate compact for education. This consortium of 16 states works to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education. Membership in SREB tells students that the state is actively engaged in helping policymakers to make informed decisions about education and helping educators to strengthen student learning through professional development, assistance with curricula and recommendations for proven practices.

At the institutional level, many schools emphasize quality as well. Northwest Mississippi Community College was a pioneer in online education, with offerings dating back to 1999, and in 2018 it became the first community college in the state to offer online courses certified by Quality Matters (QM), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to define and maintain quality assurance in online learning. The University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Mississippi and Northeast Mississippi Community College have also adopted QM standards.

What to Look for in Online Degree Programs in Mississippi

Here are a few important questions students in Mississippi should ask before selecting an online degree program:

What are the program’s expectations? Since more than half of Mississippi’s population is rural, you should know whether the program has any on-campus requirements. Are on-campus courses, tests or other activities required? Consider whether you can adhere to other requirements such as those regarding technology, meeting deadlines or completing courses.

What do you need and expect of your chosen program? Does the program offer the hands-on skills and certifications you need? Would you be able to work in your chosen profession following this program? Does its learning requirements, delivery method, course sizes and instruction suit your learning needs?

What services are available to students? Does the prospective program offer services that help students to be successful? To improve enrollment and retention, many Mississippi colleges are taking big steps to support students. For example, Delta State University offers a first-year seminar, academic maps and supplemental instruction. And at Mississippi State, every incoming freshman is assigned a freshman year navigator — an upperclassman who helps the student progress through the freshman year.

What it is the cost? Affordability is a factor in deciding on a program. You’ll need to understand the tuitions and fees charged, as well as what your tuition includes. And, of course, it’s important to know how much financial aid might be available to you at each school. More on financial aid for online colleges in Mississippi is included below.

Top Occupations in Mississippi

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says these occupations are seeing the greatest job growth in the Mississippi. This information can be helpful in determining where you’ll concentrate your studies.

Scholarships and Financial Aid in Mississippi

Each year, the State of Mississippi helps provide about $40 million to students to help them afford college. This includes three undergraduate grant programs that are available to full-time students:

HELP: The Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students awards full tuition to students with demonstrated financial need (according to federal aid eligibility data), for up to four years.

MTAG: The Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant awards $500 per year to freshmen and sophomores and $1,000 per year to juniors and seniors. Students must attend state-approved public and private not-for-profit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities.

MESG: The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Program awards $2,500 per year to high-achieving students with a score of 29 or higher on the ACT and 3.5 or higher GPA.

Other programs, including a grant for Mississippi dependent children and spouses of law enforcement and fire protection officers and a private scholarship from Nissan North America are also available. To receive these and any federal, institutional and private financial aid funds, your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Scholarship Listing

Tests You May Need to Take

There is no one college entrance exam that Mississippi online colleges require. Some schools, such as The University of Mississippi or Mississippi College, can accept either an SAT or ACT score, while East Mississippi Community College requires the ACT. Still others, such as Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, require no test scores. Check with your chosen school to determine its individual admissions requirements.