Compare NCLEX pass rates, costs, and program types across every accredited Mississippi nursing school.
Nursing schools in Mississippi, a mix of public universities, historically black colleges, private liberal arts colleges, and community colleges, deliver over 30 distinct BSN and ADN program options across 21 campuses. With the state projecting a steady need for registered nurses, particularly in rural areas, the pipeline of new graduates from these programs is critical. Prospective students face a wide spread in costs, from sub-$5,000 annual net prices at community colleges to over $30,000 at private institutions, but earnings outcomes don't always track with tuition. Programs with NCLEX pass rates consistently above 90% often share a common trait: rigorous clinical placements and low student-to-faculty ratios.
Mississippi offers a range of nursing programs from community college ADN pathways to university BSN and accelerated options. Our rankings consider institutional data, program quality, and in-state reputation to help you find the best fit. Here are the top 10 nursing schools in Mississippi for 2026.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Mississippi | University, MS | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | BSN at the state's only academic medical center | |
The University of Mississippi's BSN program, delivered through the University of Mississippi Medical Center, gives students access to the state's only academic medical center and a 2+2 model starting at the Oxford campus. With a strong in-state pipeline, the program prepares graduates for diverse nursing roles across Mississippi's healthcare settings. The institution offers a high graduation rate and competitive earnings potential.
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| #2 | Mississippi University for Women | Columbus, MS | $12,000/yr | BSN and ASN pathways with statewide reach | |
Mississippi University for Women's nursing programs have been ranked #1 in Mississippi for 2026, with a top-4% national standing. Offering both ASN and BSN pathways at Columbus and Tupelo, the school is a leader in state nursing education. Its programs emphasize hands-on clinical training and career readiness for RN roles.
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| #3 | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | Hybrid BSN for Mississippi and Louisiana residents | |
William Carey University provides multiple BSN pathways including a campus-based pre-licensure program and hybrid options for second-degree seekers and licensed healthcare workers. The hybrid programs, restricted to Mississippi and Louisiana residents, combine online coursework with in-person clinicals, offering flexibility for working professionals. With campuses in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, the school enhances access for South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.
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| #4 | Alcorn State University | Alcorn State, MS | $13,000/yr | ||
Alcorn State University, a public HBCU, offers ASN and BSN programs at its Natchez campus. The ASN program includes tracks for generic students and LPN transition, while the BSN prepares students for diverse clinical settings. The school plays a vital role in educating underrepresented and rural Mississippi nurses.
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| #5 | Mississippi College | Clinton, MS | $28,000/yr | ||
Mississippi College boasts a 96% three-year NCLEX pass rate and was ranked #1 student-ranked nursing school in Mississippi by Nurse.org for 2026. The private Christian university offers traditional and accelerated BSN programs with rigorous clinical training. Students benefit from small class sizes and a supportive learning environment.
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| #6 | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | $14,000/yr | ||
Delta State University's hybrid BSN program, located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, offers full-time and part-time options with a reported 100% NCLEX pass rate. The program emphasizes serving rural communities and provides flexible web-enhanced learning. It is a critical pipeline for nurses in economically disadvantaged regions.
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| #7 | East Mississippi Community College | Scooba, MS | $4,000 – $7,000/yr | ||
East Mississippi Community College offers an Associate Degree Nursing program with two entry points: generic and LPN to RN transition. The program focuses on evidence-based practice and has a high job placement rate. EMCC serves east-central Mississippi, providing an affordable pathway to RN licensure.
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| #8 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia, MS | $8,000/yr | ||
Northwest Mississippi Community College provides an ADN program with a traditional track and an LPN-RN transition at its Senatobia campus. Known for high licensure exam pass rates, the program includes advanced simulation labs and strong student support. It serves north Mississippi and nearby markets.
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| #9 | Hinds Community College | Raymond, MS | $4,000/yr (net price) | ||
Hinds Community College's Associate Degree Nursing program, located in Jackson and Pearl, prepares students for RN roles with a focus on professional behaviors and clinical decision-making. The program offers both traditional and transition pathways, including for LPNs and paramedics. With a simulation center and ACEN accreditation, it is a major workforce pipeline for central Mississippi.
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| #10 | Meridian Community College | Meridian, MS | $4,000 – $6,000/yr | ||
Meridian Community College's ADN program combines classroom and clinical training to prepare students for the NCLEX-RN. With a low net price and median debt, it offers an affordable entry into nursing. Located in Meridian, it serves east-central Mississippi and border communities.
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Our Mississippi nursing school rankings are built on outcomes that matter most: what graduates earn, how much they owe, and whether they finish their degrees. We use a composite score that blends five key metrics, each drawn from publicly available federal data, to identify programs that deliver strong value.
Our ranking combines five factors into a single score so you can compare programs at a glance.
All five components carry weight in the score, but program-level earnings and median debt are emphasized because they have the most direct impact on a new nurse's financial footing.
Many nursing school rankings stop at schoolwide statistics, but we pull in program-specific earnings from the College Scorecard. That allows our ranking to reflect how nursing graduates perform, not just the average for all majors at a university. This is a sharper signal of a program's career value.
NCLEX pass rates and admission selectivity are not factored into this ranking. Those are important, but we cover them in dedicated sections below so you can weigh them against cost and outcomes. Our ranking focuses strictly on value: how much you invest versus what you get back.
The most affordable BSN programs in Mississippi by net price are Mississippi University for Women ($12,411), Alcorn State University ($13,265), and the University of Mississippi ($13,314). Public institutions generally have lower net costs than private ones, though the University of Southern Mississippi ($21,708) is a notable exception. Detailed loan repayment figures at the program level are not yet available from federal databases.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price After Aid | Median Debt at Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi University for Women | $8,492 | $8,492 | $12,411 | $15,000 |
| Alcorn State University | $8,785 | $8,785 | $13,265 | $27,000 |
| University of Mississippi | $9,772 | $28,600 | $13,314 | $20,000 |
| Delta State University | $8,605 | $8,605 | $13,540 | $20,390 |
| William Carey University | $15,480 | $15,480 | $14,258 | $20,832 |
| Belhaven University | $30,250 | $30,250 | $15,676 | $26,333 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | $9,998 | $11,998 | $21,708 | $22,500 |
| Blue Mountain Christian University | $20,180 | $20,180 | $24,016 | $18,534 |
| Mississippi College | $23,500 | $23,500 | $27,712 | $22,500 |
NCLEX pass rates are one of the most critical metrics for evaluating nursing programs. They reflect how well a school prepares students for the licensure exam, a direct gatekeeper to a nursing career. In Mississippi, consistently high first-time pass rates can signal strong curriculum alignment, quality clinical placements, and dedicated faculty support. While pass rates aren't the only factor, they offer a transparent starting point for comparing programs.
A high first-time NCLEX pass rate indicates that a program’s graduates are entering the workforce prepared to meet the demands of modern nursing. It also affects a school’s accreditation status and reputation. For you as a student, attending a program with above-average pass rates can mean less stress at exam time and a smoother transition into your first RN job. Employers and licensing boards pay attention to these numbers, so your school’s track record matters.
You can access official NCLEX performance data through several reliable channels:
Mississippi nursing graduates have historically performed well on the NCLEX. In 2022, undergraduate nursing programs in the state, across both ADN and BSN pathways, achieved a combined first-time pass rate of 96.11%, far exceeding the national average of 79.9% for that same year. The state’s first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate stood at 92% in 2023, demonstrating sustained strength. While individual program rates vary, the statewide trend confirms that Mississippi’s nursing schools are producing competent, exam-ready clinicians.
When reviewing pass rates, look beyond a single year. Programs can have temporary dips due to cohort size or curriculum changes. A three-year trend gives a more accurate picture. Also, consider whether the rate reported is for first-time test-takers only, first-time pass rates are the industry standard for comparison. Using these numbers alongside program costs, accreditation, and clinical opportunities helps you build a complete picture before applying.
Online pre-licensure BSN programs remain rare in Mississippi; most online nursing education is delivered through RN-to-BSN completion tracks. Among ranked pre-licensure programs, Delta State University stands out with a hybrid format that combines web-enhanced learning with mandatory on-campus skills checkoffs and in-person clinical rotations. The table below compares typical campus-based BSN programs with Delta State's hybrid model, using institution-wide data from the College Scorecard (2023). Program-level 1-year earnings are not yet available, so 10-year median earnings serve as a proxy for long-term outcomes.
Delivery Format Median Net Price (Annual) Graduation Rate 10-Year Median Earnings Clinical Placement
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Recent program-specific earnings for Mississippi nursing graduates are not yet published, but state-level data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a reliable benchmark. The median annual salary for registered nurses in the state is $73,160, a figure that new graduates can use to gauge long-term earning potential. This amount can rise significantly with experience, especially in top-paying metros like Jackson.
The path to RN licensure in Mississippi is straightforward. After earning an ADN or BSN from an approved nursing school, you apply to the Mississippi Board of Nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, and receive a license that grants you practice privileges across the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Admission criteria for BSN programs in Mississippi span a wide range, from open-admission public universities with 100% acceptance rates to selective private colleges where fewer than one in three applicants are admitted. The table below compares minimum GPA thresholds, application deadlines, required entrance exams, and institutional admission rates for top programs. Note that the admission rate shown is for the entire institution, not the nursing program alone, but it provides useful context for overall selectivity.
| School | Minimum GPA | Application Deadline | Entrance Exam | Admissions Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi College | 3.0 | N/A | N/A | 29.1% |
| Alcorn State University | N/A | N/A | N/A | 45.3% |
| William Carey University | 2.75 | N/A | N/A | 60.3% |
| Mississippi University for Women | 2.75-3.0 | N/A | N/A | 90.3% |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2.5-2.75 | N/A | N/A | 96.6% |
| Delta State University | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100% |
| University of Southern Mississippi | N/A | February 1, 2026 | Nursing Entrance Exam | N/A |
Mississippi’s most affordable BSN programs often deliver 1-year earnings that match or exceed those of graduates from far more expensive private colleges. The spread in ROI across the state is striking, with some low-cost public schools yielding earnings-to-tuition ratios that outpace high-tuition options by a wide margin, meaning your decision on where to enroll can have a lasting financial impact.
Choosing the right nursing program in Mississippi raises many questions about school options, costs, and career pathways. Below we answer some of the most common inquiries to help you navigate your education journey.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Mississippi offers additional nursing schools across the state. Explore these options by region and click through to individual profiles for full details on admissions, costs, and outcomes.
