Mississippi Valley State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Itta Bena, Mississippi. It enrolls 1,439 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes10
Value69
Affordability91
Selectivity8
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.4%, Mississippi Valley State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.4%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
13 – 17
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Mississippi Valley State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
13.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mississippi Valley State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,686 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,686
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
56%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$7,692
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,956
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,956
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,800
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,154
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,073
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,076
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,627
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,440
Over $110,000
$17,479
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,50025%percentile
$28,413Medianpercentile
$32,04275%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,760
↓ $8,653
No Pell $13,000
↓ $15,413
Dependent students $18,000
↓ $10,413
Independent students $25,000
↓ $3,413
Female students $21,500
↓ $6,913
Male students $16,028
↓ $12,385
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $14,250, less than completers ($28,413), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
20% of full-time students who enrolled at Mississippi Valley State University graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mississippi Valley State University earn a median of $31,919 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$31,919
Earning > $25K
54%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$24,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$31,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,500, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 53% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Mississippi Valley State University is home to 1,439 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,439
Part-Time
28%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 91.4%1,315
White 3.3%47
Hispanic 1.8%26
Asian 0.7%10
Other 0.3%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mississippi Valley State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantItta Bena, Mississippi
Housing
Mostly residential998 beds on campus
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Mississippi Valley State University offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi Valley State University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,438
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,083
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
91 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
20%
$72,215
Associate Professors
16
18%
$60,851
Assistant Professors
41
45%
$58,667
Instructors
16
18%
$49,295
Pros & Cons of Mississippi Valley State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mississippi Valley State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Mississippi Valley State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mississippi Valley State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mississippi Valley State University.
Is Mississippi Valley State University hard to get into?
Mississippi Valley State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Mississippi Valley State University?
Mississippi Valley State University has an acceptance rate of 92.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Mississippi Valley State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mississippi Valley State University scored between 13 and 17 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Mississippi Valley State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Mississippi Valley State University is $9,686 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mississippi Valley State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $31,919 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,686 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mississippi Valley State University known for?
Mississippi Valley State University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mississippi Valley State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mississippi Valley State University are $31,919, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mississippi Valley State University accredited?
Yes. Mississippi Valley State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Mississippi Valley State University?
Mississippi Valley State University enrolls 1,439 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mississippi Valley State University?
Mississippi Valley State University graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mississippi Valley State University a public or private college?
Mississippi Valley State University is a Public institution.
Where is Mississippi Valley State University located?
Mississippi Valley State University is located in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
What programs does Mississippi Valley State University offer?
Mississippi Valley State University offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi Valley State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi Valley State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Mississippi
Other colleges in Mississippi share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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93 UCD Score
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