Mississippi State University ROI Analysis
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
Quick answer
USACollegeData.com ROI analysis (College Scorecard data): four years at Mississippi State University costs about $39,260 in in-state tuition, and graduates earn a median of $43,487 five years after graduation — the investment breaks even in roughly 4.6 years (20-year ROI: 332%).
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$39,260
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$8,487/yr
above high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
4.6 years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
332%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Mississippi State University's in-state tuition costs $9,815. One year after graduation, alumni earn a median of $41,867. Five years after graduation, earnings increase to $43,487, and after ten years, earnings reach $51,513. The median debt for graduates is $22,142, and 39.2% of students receive financial aid.
The debt-to-income ratio, calculated by dividing the median debt by the first-year earnings, is approximately 0.53. This indicates that graduates' debt is about half of their first-year earnings.
To calculate the break-even point, the tuition cost is divided by the difference between the first-year earnings and the tuition cost. This calculation suggests that it would take less than one year for a graduate to earn back their tuition investment.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$9,815
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,142
Median Earnings (5yr)
$43,487
Graduation Rate
63%
Receive Financial Aid
39%
Avg Aid Amount
N/A
Program-Level ROI
Peer Comparison
332%
20yr ROI
344%
20yr ROI
248%
20yr ROI
442%
20yr ROI
374%
20yr ROI
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.