2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Mississippi
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Mississippi? We have ranked 54 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 12 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Mississippi
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Itawamba Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Teaching degree schools in Mississippi. This public school is set in Fulton, MS. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Itawamba Community College alumni report median earnings of $32,912 a decade after entry. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Itawamba Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Teaching ranking in Mississippi. Set in Perkinston, MS, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $33,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College profile
Mississippi State University came in at #3 on this year's best-value Teaching ranking in Mississippi. This public school is set in Mississippi State, MS. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Typical Teaching student debt is $23,969. Mississippi State University alumni report median earnings of $51,513 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mississippi State University has an acceptance rate of 78%. Read the full report on Mississippi State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta State University earned it the #4 place in Mississippi. This public school is set in Cleveland, MS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,605. Delta State University Teaching students take on a median of $23,432 in debt. Delta State University alumni report median earnings of $41,991 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,432 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%. More on Delta State University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's best-value Teaching ranking in Mississippi. Located in University, MS, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. University Of Mississippi Main Campus Teaching students take on a median of $22,444 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,994 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mississippi Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 97%. See the full University Of Mississippi Main Campus profile
University Of Southern Mississippi offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Hattiesburg, MS, University Of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. University Of Southern Mississippi Teaching students take on a median of $25,415 in debt. University Of Southern Mississippi alumni report median earnings of $44,140 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants. More on University Of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Set in Clinton, MS, Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,510 to complete their Teaching program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%. See the full Mississippi College profile
William Carey University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Located in Hattiesburg, MS, William Carey University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Graduates carry a median of $25,079 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,087 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,079 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%. Read more about William Carey University
Alcorn State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Alcorn State University is a public school based in Alcorn State, MS. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,785. Students borrow a median of $29,674 to complete their Teaching program here. Median earnings reach $36,421 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $29,674 median debt. Alcorn State University admits about 45% of applicants. More on Alcorn State University
Jackson State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. This public school is set in Jackson, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,965, compared with $11,965 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $32,944 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,060. Set against $32,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%. Get the full Jackson State University report
Blue Mountain College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Blue Mountain, MS, Blue Mountain College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,180. Typical Teaching student debt is $22,542. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. See the full Blue Mountain College profile
Belhaven University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jackson, MS. Students from in state pay about $30,250 in tuition and fees. The median Teaching program debt is $34,181. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Belhaven University has an acceptance rate of 50%. See the full Belhaven University profile
East Mississippi Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on East Mississippi Community College
Vaughn Beauty College landed the #14 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read the full report on Vaughn Beauty College
Strayer University Mississippi placed #15 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. More on Strayer University Mississippi
Unlimited Cosmetology School placed #16 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Read the full report on Unlimited Cosmetology School
Blue Cliff College Gulfport landed the #17 spot for value in Mississippi this year. More on Blue Cliff College Gulfport
Mississippi Institute Of Aesthetics Nails And Cosmetology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Mississippi Institute Of Aesthetics Nails And Cosmetology
Kcs School Of Hair Design ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Kcs School Of Hair Design
Board Of Trustees Mississippi State Institutions Of Higher Learning landed the #20 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read the full report on Board Of Trustees Mississippi State Institutions Of Higher Learning
Fosters Cosmetology College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Fosters Cosmetology College
Mississippi Community College Board ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Mississippi Community College Board profile
Chris Beauty College landed the #23 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read the full report on Chris Beauty College
Mississippi University For Women came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mississippi University For Women report
Academy Of Hair Design Jackson came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on Academy Of Hair Design Jackson
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Mississippi
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Goshen School Of Cosmetology landed the #26 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Get the full Goshen School Of Cosmetology report
Concorde Career College Southaven came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Concorde Career College Southaven
Corinth Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Corinth Academy Of Cosmetology
Wesley Biblical Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on Wesley Biblical Seminary
Mississippi Valley State University placed #30 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. More on Mississippi Valley State University
Jones County Junior College landed the #31 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read more about Jones County Junior College
Southwest Mississippi Community College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southwest Mississippi Community College
Pearl River Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Pearl River Community College
Delta Technical College landed the #34 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Get the full Delta Technical College report
Traxlers School Of Hair came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Traxlers School Of Hair
Mississippi Delta Community College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Mississippi Delta Community College
Academy Of Hair Design Pearl landed the #37 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read the full report on Academy Of Hair Design Pearl
The Academy Of Hair Design Six placed #38 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Read more about The Academy Of Hair Design Six
Rust College
Rust College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Rust College
Holmes Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Holmes Community College
Hinds Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Hinds Community College profile
Mississippi College Of Beauty Culture came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mississippi College Of Beauty Culture report
Northwest Mississippi Community College came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northwest Mississippi Community College report
Copiah Lincoln Community College placed #44 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Get the full Copiah Lincoln Community College report
C N K Barber College placed #45 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Get the full C N K Barber College report
Upper Kutz Barber Style College landed the #46 spot for value in Mississippi this year. Read more about Upper Kutz Barber Style College
Academy Of Hair Design Grenada ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Academy Of Hair Design Grenada profile
Southeastern Baptist College placed #48 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Read more about Southeastern Baptist College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Millsaps College
Northeast Mississippi Community College placed #50 among the best-value Teaching schools in Mississippi. Read the full report on Northeast Mississippi Community College
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 12 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 54 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).