True College Verdict
F

Mississippi Valley State University

Itta Bena, MS · 1,439 undergraduates · 51% receive Pell Grants · admits 92%
PublicMainly bachelor's degreesHBCU

Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,678 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 18 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
Yes
Average net price $11,844 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
No
36% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Doubtful
Graduates owe a typical $27,000 against earnings of $36,621, a ratio of 0.74. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

Student reviews are coming soon

We are rebuilding how students share their experiences, so for now this page shows only the federal numbers and our written summaries. Check back soon.

Why it is good

  • Affordable: the average student pays about $11,844 a year after grants, cheaper than 84% of four-year colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Only 36% of students graduate. 87% of four-year colleges do better.
  • It falls short of expectations: it graduates 17 points fewer students than is typical for a college enrolling the same share of low-income students (36% against an expected 52%; the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about 16 points).
  • Many students leave early: only 70% of first-year students return for a second year.
  • Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $36,621, lower than 96% of four-year colleges.
  • Earnings trail expectations by about $19,677 a year for a college with its student mix (the estimate is rough, with a typical error of about $15,000).
  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $27,000 in federal loans against earnings of $36,621.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
36%
Better than 13% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
70%
Better than 29% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$36,621
Better than 4% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$27,000
Better than 2% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$11,844
Better than 84% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$7,822
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Student reviews and questions are coming soon to this site. In the meantime, other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.