Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Cost is resident tuition plus required fees, 2023-24.
Bachelor's Degrees in Mississippi
9
Meet the Ranking Threshold
8
Median Resident Tuition and Fees
$8,795
General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Mississippi
General studies bachelor's degrees in Mississippi are small programs with a wide gap in completion, and none of them is offered online. Eight are ranked and 1 more, at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, sits in the table of other programs. The largest ranked program, Mississippi State University, awarded 64 degrees in the latest year, and the smallest, Jackson State University, awarded 16. Seven of the eight are public universities, and William Carey University in Hattiesburg is the one private program.
The University of Mississippi's Bachelor of University Studies has the highest score in the state at this level, 76.5, 7th nationally on our list, on a 72% graduation rate, the highest here, 59 degrees and $9,412 in resident tuition and fees. Mississippi State follows at 71.4, 20th nationally, with a 67% graduation rate at $9,815, the highest price among the public programs. Alcorn State University, at $8,549, graduates 57% and scores 58.8, and William Carey graduates 60% at $14,685, the highest price on the list.
The lower half costs less and finishes fewer students. Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena has the lowest tuition and fees at this level, $7,912, and the lowest graduation rate, 27%, on 50 degrees. Delta State in Cleveland ($8,605, 48%), Jackson State ($8,795, 51%) and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg ($9,618, 49%) sit between. Hattiesburg is the one city with two ranked programs, Southern Miss and William Carey.
The 8 Best General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Mississippi
The best general studies bachelor's degrees in Mississippi are ranked below by their national score, from the national bachelor's degree ranking. The number on each card is the program's place in Mississippi. Each needed at least 10 graduates in the latest year to be ranked.
1
University of Mississippi
Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.)
Mississippi
76.5- Public
- College graduation rate
- 72%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $9,412 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 59
About the Program
Returning after a gap is what the Bachelor of University Studies is for, and the admission rules show it. You need at least 90 degree-applicable credit hours already, no more than 60 of them from a 2-year college, and you can't already hold a bachelor's degree. Under Pathway 1 you also can't have attended any college or university for the past 24 consecutive months. So this is a degree you come back to finish, not one you start.
Emphasis areas decide what your transcript says. Put at least 30 hours into one emphasis, 18 of them at the 300 level or higher, and that emphasis appears on your transcript. Spread across three areas instead, with at least 10 credit hours in each and 6 of those at the 300 level or higher, and none appears. So depth shows on paper and breadth doesn't. The areas are Business, Creative Arts, Health & Human Services, Social Sciences, Humanities, Education and STEM.
Old failing grades stop counting against you once you're admitted, because all previous Fs are removed from your GPA calculation, transfer and in residence alike. That matters if a bad semester is the reason you left. From there the bar is a 2.0 GPA in residence, and at least 30 credit hours for the degree have to be taken at the University of Mississippi.
Advisors in the Office of General Studies review your previous academic work to find the shortest path to the degree, and the college puts the duration at as little as one semester. How long it takes you depends on what you bring. The degree requires 120 credit hours, a 30-hour general education core, and at least 30 credit hours at the 300 level or higher across the curriculum, so a record made up of lower-level courses will leave you more to do.
2
Mississippi State University
Mississippi
71.4- Public
- College graduation rate
- 67%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $9,815 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 64
About the Program
Some 23,150 students attend Mississippi State University, a public university in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The program's last federal report shows 64 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 66 in every 100 programs measured here. Across the whole college, 67% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 88% of the institutions behind this list. Expect tuition and fees of $9,815 a year as a resident and $26,580 otherwise. Admission is selective enough to plan for, with 78% of applicants accepted. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 88th percentile.
3
Alcorn State University
Mississippi
58.8- Public
- HBCU
- College graduation rate
- 57%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,549 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 17
About the Program
Alcorn State University is a historically Black public university in Alcorn State, Mississippi that enrolls 2,995 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 17 bachelor's degrees, a count at the 18th percentile for size. Its college-wide graduation rate is 57%, the 71st percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Every student pays $8,549 a year in tuition and fees, since the institution sets one rate. Getting in is not automatic, because 45% of applicants are admitted. Strongest of its measures is price, which lands at the 75th percentile.
4
William Carey University
Mississippi
52.2- Private nonprofit
- College graduation rate
- 60%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $14,685 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 26
About the Program
Some 5,321 students attend William Carey University, a private nonprofit university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The program's last federal report shows 26 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 37 in every 100 programs measured here. Of the students who start at William Carey University, 60% graduate, and that beats 78 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Tuition and fees are $14,685 a year for every student, residents and nonresidents alike. About 60% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. On the graduation rate of its college it does best, reaching the 78th percentile.
5
Delta State University
Mississippi
51.4- Public
- College graduation rate
- 48%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,605 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 27
About the Program
Some 2,654 students attend Delta State University, a public university in Cleveland, Mississippi. It conferred 27 bachelor's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 38% of the bachelor's programs ranked at this level. Its college-wide graduation rate is 48%, the 44th percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Every student pays $8,605 a year in tuition and fees, since the institution sets one rate. Getting in is rarely the obstacle, with 100% of applicants admitted. Strongest of its measures is price, which lands at the 74th percentile.
6
University of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi
51.1- Public
- College graduation rate
- 49%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $9,618 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 41
About the Program
University of Southern Mississippi is a public university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi that enrolls 13,170 students. It conferred 41 bachelor's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 53% of the bachelor's programs ranked at this level. Across the whole college, 49% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 48% of the institutions behind this list. Residents pay $9,618 a year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $11,618. Admission is close to open, with 99% of applicants accepted. Its strongest mark is price, at the 55th percentile.
7
Jackson State University
Mississippi
49.0- Public
- HBCU
- College graduation rate
- 51%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $8,795 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 16
About the Program
Jackson, Mississippi is home to Jackson State University, a historically Black public university of 6,326 students. The program's last federal report shows 16 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 16 in every 100 programs measured here. Of the students who start at Jackson State University, 51% graduate, and that beats 53 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Residents pay $8,795 a year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $9,795. About 93% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. On price it does best, reaching the 70th percentile.
8
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi
43.0- Public
- HBCU
- College graduation rate
- 27%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $7,912 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 50
About the Program
Some 2,205 students attend Mississippi Valley State University, a historically Black public university in Itta Bena, Mississippi. It conferred 50 bachelor's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 60% of the bachelor's programs ranked at this level. A 27% graduation rate puts the college at the 5th percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Every student pays $7,912 a year in tuition and fees, since the institution sets one rate. Admission is selective enough to plan for, with 92% of applicants accepted. On price it does best, reaching the 85th percentile.
Other General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Mississippi
The other general studies bachelor's degrees in Mississippi awarded fewer than 10 degrees in the latest year or did not report a figure the ranking uses, so they are listed here without a score. That says something about size and nothing on its own about quality.
| College | Degrees Awarded | Graduation Rate | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi University for Women, Columbus | 1 | 47% | $8,092 |
Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Graduation rate is the college's, for first-time, full-time students.
How Much Does a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Cost in Mississippi?
A general studies bachelor's degree in Mississippi costs $8,795 a year in resident tuition and required fees at the median of the nine programs, Jackson State's price. The eight public universities all sit between $7,912 and $9,815: Mississippi Valley State $7,912, Mississippi University for Women $8,092, Alcorn State $8,549, Delta State $8,605, Jackson State $8,795, Ole Miss $9,412, Southern Miss $9,618 and Mississippi State $9,815. William Carey, private, is $14,685. Nonresidents pay the same rate at Mississippi Valley State, Alcorn State, Delta State and William Carey, but $26,980 at Ole Miss and $26,580 at Mississippi State.
The cheapest route is arriving with most of the hours. Under IHL Policy 519 the University Studies degree needs at least 120 hours, 30 of them in residence, and it admits adults with at least 90 credit hours, no bachelor's degree and no enrollment in the past 24 months, so a student who qualifies pays for roughly a year at these rates. The state's adult grant, UPSKILL, created in 2026, covers tuition and required fees after other grant aid plus a $500 stipend only at community colleges in eligible programs, so it funds the associate before this degree, not the degree itself.
How Does Credit Transfer Into a General Studies Bachelor's Degree in Mississippi?
Credit transfers into a general studies bachelor's degree in Mississippi under a statewide articulation agreement between IHL, the university board, and the Mississippi Community College Board, and the strongest guarantee goes to students arriving with an Associate of Arts. IHL Policy 517 requires the public universities here to accept every transferable course passed with a C or better as part of a Mississippi community college Associate of Arts, and a graduate who finished the 30-hour IHL core with a C or better in each course has satisfied the core at every IHL university. William Carey, the one private program, is outside the agreement.
The second route is for people with a lot of credit and no degree. IHL Policy 519 lets each public university offer its Adult Degree Completion Program as a bachelor's called University Studies, the degree Ole Miss lists here as the Bachelor of University Studies. You're eligible with at least 90 credit hours, no bachelor's degree and no college enrollment in the past 24 months, and the degree requires at least 120 hours, with 30 of general education core, 30 in residence and 30 upper division. With 90 hours banked, the university supplies the last 30. Ask each university whether its general studies bachelor's is this program or a separately admitted degree, because the eligibility rules differ.
What Do Jobs With a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Pay in Mississippi?
Jobs open to a general studies bachelor's degree in Mississippi pay the state medians below, from the May 2025 federal wage survey, with the national median beside each for comparison. Each row links to the salary guide for that job.
How to Choose a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Program in Mississippi
Choosing a general studies bachelor's degree program in Mississippi means deciding how much a higher graduation rate is worth, because the two public universities with the highest graduation rates are also among the most expensive. Ole Miss ($9,412, 72%) and Mississippi State ($9,815, 67%) sit at the top on both counts. Alcorn State is the value case at $8,549 with a 57% graduation rate, higher than Delta State or Jackson State, both of which cost more, and far above Mississippi Valley State's 27% at $7,912. William Carey's 60% costs $14,685.
Bring your transfer credit knowing what the University Studies name means: IHL policy lets each public university run its Adult Degree Completion Program as a bachelor's called University Studies, which admits adults with at least 90 credit hours, no bachelor's degree and no college enrollment in the past 24 months. So if you have 90 hours, ask each university whether its general studies bachelor's is that program or a separate degree with ordinary transfer rules, how many of your hours it will count toward the 120 required, and whether any of the 30 upper-division hours can be taken at a distance, since none is online.
If you're starting with an associate degree, the general studies associate degrees in Mississippi have their own page.