Best Nursing Schools in Mississippi

Mississippi's education system consistently ranks among the lowest performing in the state. Nonetheless, the state's educational system has expanded steadily over the past several years and continues to do so each year.

Mississippi has a lower cost of living and a more inexpensive cost of education than the majority of US states. In Mississippi, the average pay for registered nurses (RNs) was around $68,000 in 2022, and the pay for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives ranged from $185,000 to $115,000.

Choosing the Best Nursing School

When choosing a nursing program, students need to be aware of the courses they must take. Depending on how much time they have to dedicate to the curriculum, students must choose between traditional and online nursing programs. Students also need to know about the institution's reputation and accreditation. Nationally, students are particularly interested in obtaining certificates similar to CCNE or ACEN. One must take into account the graduation rate of the program they are applying to in addition to the NCLEX pass rate.

Cost of Studying Nursing in Mississippi

The price to enroll in a nursing program in Mississippi will depend on the type of school and degree level that the student is pursuing. The cost of tuition for candidates attending private institutions is far higher than that of candidates attending public colleges. Depending on whether they reside in the state or not, candidates enrolled in public institutions will pay different fees.

10 Best Nursing Schools in Mississippi

Institution	Location	In-state Tuition Fee	Out-of-state Tuition Fee	NCLEX Pass Rate
University of Mississippi Medical Center	Jackson	$5,000 (12 credit hours)	$15,000 (12 credit hours)	97.09%
Alcorn State University	Lorman	$7,900 per semester	$7,900 per semester	88.13%
William Carey University	Hattiesburg	$500 (per credit hour)	$500 (per credit hour)	100%
Delta State University	Cleveland	$4,200 per semester	$4,200 (per semester)	96.43%
Mississippi College	Clinton	$11,000 per semester	$11,000 (per semester)	94.98%
Belhaven University	Jackson	$15,000 per semester	$15,000 per semester	91.3%
University of Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg	$4,800 per semester	$5,800 per semester	98.35%
Hinds Community College	Raymond	$1,700 per semester	$3,300 per semester	94.37%
Mississippi University for Women	Columbus	$4,000 annually	$4,000 annually	93.75%
Pearl River Community College	Poplarville	$1,700 per semester	$2,700 per semester	86.21%

University of Mississippi Medical Center

The only academic medical facility in the state, the University of Mississippi Medical Center is an extension of the University of Mississippi campus that houses six health science schools with an annual budget of $1.7 billion. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE, has granted the facility accreditation. Nursing programs offered by the center include regular BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-BSN, RN-MSN, Master's and Post-Master's, DNP, BSN-DNP, and PhD.

Alcorn State University

The first public historically black land-grant university in the United States, Alcorn State University is nationally renowned for its excellence in nursing. It offers some of the lowest tuition and fees in the area. The university is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is a member of the following organizations: Southern Regional Education Board, National League for Nursing, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing. The university provides ADN, BSN, MSN, and DNP programs.

William Carey University

A private Christian university, William Carey University is connected to both the Mississippi Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has granted William Carey University's nursing bachelor's and master's degrees accreditation. The university offers nursing pre-licensure programs in BSN, LPN Advanced Placement, MSN, and DNP.

Delta State University

Delta State University is a public institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The top-ranked online program for RN to BSN and the second-most reasonably priced online master's in nursing were both awarded to Delta State. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) have accredited the university's nursing program. It provides nursing degrees at the BSN, RN-BSN, master's, post-master's certificate program, and doctorate levels.

Mississippi College

Mississippi Baptist Convention-affiliated Mississippi College is a private liberal arts Baptist university. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has granted accreditation to the nursing bachelor's and master's degree programs. The College's Clinical Nurse Leadership program is the first of its type in the state. The university provides an online RN to BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, an online MSN program, and a nursing minor.

Belhaven University

Belhaven University is a private evangelical Christian liberal arts university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its nursing programs are accredited by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The university recently announced a reduction in their RN to BSN program, which is exclusive to all states in the US, along with the ability to finish the 30-hour degree at an accelerated pace. RN to BSN online and pre-licensure BSN are offered by the university.

University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has accredited the institution's nursing programs. In nursing, the university provides BSN, RN-BSN, BSN to DNP, DNP, and PhD.

Hinds Community College

Hinds Community College is Mississippi's largest public community college, recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The college provides over 70 options for career and technical programs. Students can select from Associate Degrees in Nursing and Practical Nursing programs offered by them.

Mississippi University for Women

Mississippi University for Women is a public institution with postsecondary academic degree offerings and awards authorized by the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA) and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) have accredited the university's nursing programs. Among Southern colleges, the university has a reputation for having the lowest student debt. The university provides DNP, MSN, BSN, and ADN nursing programs.

Pearl River Community College

Pearl River Community College is Mississippi's first public two-year higher education institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) grants yearly accreditation to the university's nursing program to the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (MS IHL), which is the Mississippi Community College Board. The university provides a Practical Nursing program and an ADN.