Mississippi College

Mississippi College presents a highly selective admissions profile paired with an unusually committed enrolling class, even as its national standing has softened in recent years. In the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings, the institution placed at 342 among National Universities, down from 293 in 2020. Getting in has become demanding; in 2025, the undergraduate acceptance rate stood at 29.1%. When measured against its peer group of private comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this acceptance rate was lower than all peer schools. For applicants, this means admission is far more competitive than at similarly ranked private institutions. At the same time, the university demonstrates exceptional pull once an acceptance letter is sent. The yield rate reached 91% in 2025, making it higher than all peer schools in the comparison cohort. Such an elevated enrollment rate indicates that prospective students who apply to Mississippi College almost always intend to enroll if accepted, leaving very few unused spots for waitlisted candidates.

Mississippi College maintains an admission test policy that is optional, with test scores considered if submitted. For 2025, the middle half of enrolled students achieved an ACT composite score between 19.0 and 25.0, with subject scores in English and math demonstrating comparable mid-range performance. Standardized test reporting among applicants is overwhelmingly focused on the ACT rather than the SAT. In 2025, 85% of enrolled students submitted ACT scores, reflecting widespread use of that exam among applicants. By comparison, SAT submissions represented a much smaller share, recorded at 10% in 2021. For prospective applicants mapping out their college applications, these benchmarks illustrate that typical students present mid-tier standardized testing credentials, providing a practical reference point when evaluating how their own academic profile aligns with the institution's enrolled cohort.

Academic degrees at Mississippi College show noticeable concentration in healthcare, education, and professional tracks. In 2025, the top three undergraduate programs accounted for 33.3% of all bachelor's degrees awarded, led by registered nursing with 100 graduates, alongside exercise science and psychology. At the graduate level, master's degrees center on educational leadership and curriculum instruction, while doctoral degrees are dominated by law. The school's largest programs are not nationally ranked strengths; while specialized graduate offerings like healthcare law and physician assistant studies appear in US News rankings, they place beyond the top 100. Post-graduation earnings data from 2023 show that registered nursing leads all undergraduate fields with median earnings of $75,984 one year after graduation, followed by accounting at a lower tier. For prospective students, the curriculum is heavily geared toward regional professional licensing and healthcare employment rather than broadly ranked academic disciplines.

The student body at Mississippi College comprised 4,164 students in 2025, spanning undergraduate, transfer, and graduate divisions. Across the institution, domestic White students form the majority, followed by a sizeable Black student population that is particularly well-represented in the graduate and transfer cohorts. In the first-year undergraduate class, international students numbered 17, accounting for 2.9% of entering freshmen, while Asian students totaled 11, representing 1.9%. Similar minority representations appear across returning undergraduates and the graduate division, where international students and Asian students each make up small single-digit percentages of their respective cohorts. Female students represent the majority of learners across both undergraduate and graduate levels. For prospective applicants, the enrollment profile reveals a predominantly regional student community where international and Asian students constitute small cohorts across all academic divisions.

The age distribution at Mississippi College highlights a clear division between a traditional undergraduate environment and a working-adult graduate student population. In 2025, the undergraduate body totaled 2,883 students, heavily dominated by traditional college ages: students aged 20 to 21 made up 35.8%, while those aged 18 to 19 accounted for 35.2%. This concentration creates an undergraduate campus life centered largely around conventional collegiate schedules and activities. Conversely, the graduate division comprises slightly older students balancing professional studies. The largest graduate group consists of students aged 25 to 29, representing 32.6% of graduate enrollment, closely followed by those aged 22 to 24. This split indicates that while undergraduate life remains focused on young adults, graduate programs cater predominantly to early-career professionals.

International enrollment at Mississippi College has experienced a downward trend over the past decade in both undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, undergraduate international students accounted for 3.4% of the undergraduate student body, decreasing from previous years. At the graduate level, the decline has been steeper, with international students comprising 4.8% of graduate enrollment in 2025 compared to much higher levels a decade earlier. Among degree recipients in 2025, international students made up a larger share of master's degree awards than undergraduate or doctoral degrees. In terms of academic concentration, international undergraduates are most visibly represented in business fields; international students comprised 15.4% of graduates in finance. At the master's level, international representation centers in business administration and management, where international students accounted for 21.9% of graduates. For prospective international students, these trends indicate a comparatively small international community on campus, with international student presence concentrated heavily within business and commercial degree pathways.

Applicants evaluating Mississippi College may consider several other universities located within a reasonable travel radius. Located 118.1 kilometers away, Mississippi State University is a public National University ranked 208 in the 2027 rankings. Across state lines, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is situated 141.8 kilometers away, holding rank 202 among National Universities. Another in-state alternative is the University of Mississippi, positioned 147.5 kilometers to the north, holding a National University ranking of 179. Further south in New Orleans, Tulane University of Louisiana sits 166 kilometers away and is ranked 59 among National Universities. These institutions offer diverse campus sizes and public or private settings within driving distance of central Mississippi.

Campus safety reports for Mississippi College show stable baseline indicators, with the majority of recorded incidents relating to internal disciplinary actions rather than violent offenses. In 2025, the crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 3, matching the rate recorded in 2016. Across the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, disciplinary referrals accounted for the largest share of campus safety reports. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations represented the highest category total across those years, with 67 incidents recorded. Non-disciplinary offenses occurred with significantly less frequency during that same timeframe; the university logged 9 incidents of stalking and 8 disciplinary referrals for drug violations, alongside minor numbers of vehicle theft and relationship-related offenses. For families assessing campus environment, these records reflect an institutional setting where student conduct infractions, particularly involving alcohol, form the bulk of campus security enforcement, while serious criminal offenses remain infrequent.