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.
This 2026 ranking highlights Mississippi's strongest nursing programs using a mix of institutional and program-level data. The schools below span public universities, community colleges, private Christian institutions, and an HBCU, offering pathways from ADN to BSN. Net price, institution-wide graduation rate, and delivery format are shown alongside distinctive program details.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Mississippi | University, MS | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | Future RNs wanting academic medical center training | |
The University of Mississippi offers a traditional B.S.N. through a 2+2 partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Students complete prerequisites in Oxford before moving to Jackson for two years of clinical nursing training. This structure connects learners to Mississippi's only academic medical center, providing access to high-acuity rotations and a wide clinical footprint. The program includes a Freshman Early Entry option and prepares graduates for entry-level professional nursing practice and advanced study.
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| #2 | Itawamba Community College | Fulton, MS | $3,000 – $6,000/yr (est.) | Learners preferring small personalized cohorts | |
Itawamba Community College provides a five-semester Associate Degree Nursing program with a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The curriculum covers medical-surgical, mental health, pharmacology, and family-centered care, with one cohort starting each fall. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. The program is accredited by ACEN and offers advanced placement options for qualified students.
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| #3 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson, MS | $4,000 – $5,000/yr (est.) | Fall-start applicants wanting a clear timeline | |
Copiah-Lincoln Community College offers an Associate Degree Nursing program at its Wesson campus. The program is accredited by ACEN and the Mississippi IHL Board, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Students gain clinical skills and nursing practice knowledge in a supportive, student-centered environment. ACEN accredited
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| #4 | William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
William Carey University offers multiple BSN pathways, including a campus-based Pre-Licensure BSN and a Healthcare Transitions Hybrid BSN for licensed healthcare workers. The hybrid option blends asynchronous online theory with in-person clinicals and is limited to Mississippi and Louisiana residents. With CCNE accreditation and locations in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, the program emphasizes Christian principles and flexible full-time or part-time study. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #5 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia, MS | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northwest Mississippi Community College provides an Associate Degree Nursing program on its Senatobia campus with traditional and LPN-RN transition tracks. The program uses the TEAS entrance exam, requires ACT 18 or higher, and offers simulation labs, a Student Navigator, and NCLEX review support. Students can start in fall, spring, or summer depending on the track, with daytime courses only. ACEN accredited
ACEN accredited
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| #6 | East Mississippi Community College | Scooba, MS | $4,000 – $7,000/yr (est.) | ||
East Mississippi Community College offers an Associate Degree Nursing program with generic and LPN-to-RN entry options at Scooba and Mayhew. The program reports a 100% job placement rate and strong licensure outcomes, with ACEN accreditation. It blends nursing theory with clinical practice, and the LPN-to-RN track includes online coursework in the first semester. ACEN accredited
ACEN accredited
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| #7 | Mississippi University for Women | Columbus, MS | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | ||
Mississippi University for Women offers both BSN and ASN pathways through its Vandergriff College of Nursing & Health Sciences. The W is recognized as a top nursing school in Mississippi and emphasizes value with low student debt. It provides multi-site access in Columbus and Tupelo, with small cohorts and dedicated faculty support. CCNE accredited
ACEN accredited
ACEN accredited
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| #8 | Mississippi Christian University | Clinton, MS | $28,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Mississippi College offers a campus-based BSN in Clinton with traditional and accelerated paths. The program integrates Christian values into nursing education and includes a capstone clinical experience and NCLEX review course. Small cohort sizes and experienced faculty support students through classroom, simulation, and clinical rotations. CCNE accredited
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| #9 | Alcorn State University | Alcorn State, MS | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
Alcorn State University, a public HBCU and land-grant institution, offers BSN and ASN pathways in Natchez. The programs emphasize evidence-based practice, leadership, and community service, preparing nurses to serve rural and underserved Mississippi populations. The RN-to-BSN option allows licensed nurses to complete in two semesters.
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| #10 | Meridian Community College | Meridian, MS | $4,000 – $6,000/yr (est.) | ||
Meridian Community College offers an Associate Degree Nursing program with day, evening, and hybrid formats to fit student schedules. The 73-credit curriculum is accredited by ACEN and includes hands-on clinical experiences. Graduates consistently achieve NCLEX-RN pass rates above the national average, and the program reports a 99% job placement rate. ACEN accredited
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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 |
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 programs ranked above, Mississippi offers nursing pathways at community colleges and private universities in every corner of the state, from the Delta to the Gulf Coast. The directory below groups these additional schools by region so you can see what is available close to home. Each entry links to the school's own program page for admission details, deadlines, and costs.
