The Best Marketing Programs in Mississippi for 2026
The best marketing programs in Mississippi are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name. Hakia analyzed 6 business programs in Mississippi on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes to rank where a bachelor's in marketing actually pays off. In-state tuition among the 6 ranked programs in Mississippi runs from $8,435 to $21,000 a year, a $12,565 spread for the same credential.
Mississippi State University tops the list with an 80.2 Hakia Score on a 67% graduation rate, at $10,052 a year in-state. Across all 6 ranked schools, the average graduation rate is 58%, ranging from 48% to 72%. The national median pay in the field is $125,470 a year per the BLS, the same benchmark every ranked school here feeds into regardless of tuition paid.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at every ranked program and what actually separates them: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi
- Mississippi State University ranks first among Mississippi's business programs with an 80.2 Hakia Score and a 67% graduation rate.
- In-state tuition across the 6 ranked Mississippi programs spans $8,435 to $21,000 a year, a $12,565 gap for the same bachelor's in marketing.
- The 6 ranked Mississippi programs graduate 58% of students on average, from 48% to 72%.
- 5 of the 6 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate drives the lowest cost for Mississippi residents.
- National median pay in the field is $125,470 (BLS), the benchmark every ranked Mississippi program feeds into regardless of tuition.
Hakia analyzed 6 accredited programs in Mississippi reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, in-state cost, and outcomes. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 6 Best Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State, MS | Public | $10,052 | 67% | 78% | 80.2 |
| 2 | Mississippi CollegeClinton, MS | Nonprofit | $21,000 | 59% | 29% | 77.0 |
| 3 | University of MississippiUniversity, MS | Public | $9,612 | 72% | 97% | 76.7 |
| 4 | University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS | Public | $9,888 | 49% | 99% | 62.8 |
| 5 | Jackson State UniversityJackson, MS | Public | $8,690 | 51% | 93% | 61.9 |
| 6 | Delta State UniversityCleveland, MS | Public | $8,435 | 48% | 100% | 58.2 |
The Top Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS · Public
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $10,052
- Out-of-state
- $27,487
Mississippi State University graduates 67% of its students, above the 58% average across this ranking, on an 80.2 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 80.2, #1 of 6
- 67% graduation rate
- $10,052 in-state vs $27,487 out-of-state
- Admits just 78% of applicants
Based in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #1 of the 6 ranked here, earning an 80.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 69.5 group average. The program graduates 67% of its students, above the 58% average across the ranked schools. Mississippi State University admits 78% of applicants, more selective than the 83% average for the group. That is more open than the 29% rate at Mississippi College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%.
On cost, Mississippi State University charges $10,052 a year in-state, roughly 2.7x the $27,487 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $40,208 in tuition for residents, against $109,948 for non-residents. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. The spread makes the program a clearer value for MS residents than for out-of-state students. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 59%
- Admit rate
- 29%
- In-state
- $21,000
- Out-of-state
- $21,000
Mississippi College graduates 59% of its students, above the 58% average across this ranking, on a 77.0 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 77.0, #2 of 6
- 59% graduation rate
- $21,000 tuition
- Most selective program here
Based in Clinton, MS, Mississippi College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #2 of the 6 ranked here, earning a 77.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 69.5 group average, in the top third of the 6 ranked programs, 3.2 points behind top-ranked Mississippi State University. The program graduates 59% of its students, above the 58% average across the ranked schools. Mississippi College admits 29% of applicants, more selective than the 83% average for the group. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%. The university enrolls 4,164 students overall.
On cost, Mississippi College charges $21,000 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $84,000 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 6x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
University of Mississippi
University, MS · Public
- Grad rate
- 72%
- Admit rate
- 97%
- In-state
- $9,612
- Out-of-state
- $28,440
At $9,612 a year in-state, University of Mississippi is among the more affordable bachelor's in marketing programs ranked here, holding a 76.7 Hakia Score on a 72% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 76.7, #3 of 6
- 72% graduation rate
- $9,612 in-state vs $28,440 out-of-state
- Top graduation rate on this list
Based in University, MS, University of Mississippi is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #3 of the 6 ranked here, earning a 76.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 69.5 group average, in the middle third of the 6 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked Mississippi State University. The program graduates 72% of its students, above the 58% average across the ranked schools. University of Mississippi admits 97% of applicants, less selective than the 83% average for the group. That is more open than the 29% rate at Mississippi College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%.
On cost, University of Mississippi charges $9,612 a year in-state, roughly 3.0x the $28,440 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $38,448 in tuition for residents, against $113,760 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS · Public
- Grad rate
- 49%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state
- $9,888
- Out-of-state
- $11,888
University of Southern Mississippi ranks #4 of the 6 bachelor's in marketing programs in this analysis, with a 62.8 Hakia Score and a 49% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 62.8, #4 of 6
- 49% graduation rate
- $9,888 in-state vs $11,888 out-of-state
- Admits just 99% of applicants
Based in Hattiesburg, MS, University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #4 of the 6 ranked here, earning a 62.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 69.5 group average, in the middle third of the 6 ranked programs. The program graduates 49% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. University of Southern Mississippi admits 99% of applicants, less selective than the 83% average for the group. That is more open than the 29% rate at Mississippi College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%.
On cost, University of Southern Mississippi charges $9,888 a year in-state, versus $11,888 for out-of-state students. Over four years that is about $39,552 in tuition for residents, against $47,552 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 6 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS · Public
- Grad rate
- 51%
- Admit rate
- 93%
- In-state
- $8,690
- Out-of-state
- $8,690
At $8,690 a year in-state, Jackson State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in marketing programs ranked here, holding a 61.9 Hakia Score on a 51% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 61.9, #5 of 6
- 51% graduation rate
- $8,690 tuition
- Admits just 93% of applicants
Based in Jackson, MS, Jackson State University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program lands at #5 of the 6 ranked here, earning a 61.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 69.5 group average, in the lower third of the 6 ranked programs. The program graduates 51% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. Jackson State University admits 93% of applicants, less selective than the 83% average for the group. That is more open than the 29% rate at Mississippi College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%. The university enrolls 6,326 students overall.
On cost, Jackson State University charges $8,690 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $34,760 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 14x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS · Public
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 100%
- In-state
- $8,435
- Out-of-state
- $8,435
At $8,435 a year in-state, Delta State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in marketing programs ranked here, holding a 58.2 Hakia Score on a 48% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 58.2, #6 of 6
- 48% graduation rate
- $8,435 tuition
- Lowest in-state tuition here
Delta State University is a public institution in Cleveland, MS. Its Bachelor's in Marketing program ranks #6 of the 6 analyzed here with a 58.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 69.5 group average, in the lower third of the 6 ranked programs. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 58% average across the ranked schools. Delta State University admits 100% of applicants, less selective than the 83% average for the group. That is more open than the 29% rate at Mississippi College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 48% to 72%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,654 students.
On cost, Delta State University charges $8,435 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $33,740 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $8,435 at Delta State University to $21,000 at Mississippi College. Graduates step into a field with a $125,470 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
What a Bachelor's in Marketing Costs in Mississippi
In-state tuition among the 6 ranked marketing programs in Mississippi runs from $8,435 to $21,000 a year. Delta State University anchors the low end at $8,435, while Mississippi College sits at the top at $21,000. At public schools that in-state figure is the resident rate; out-of-state students routinely pay two to three times as much, which can reorder this list entirely for anyone moving in from elsewhere.
Run the four-year math and the gap widens: about $33,740 in tuition at the low end against roughly $84,000 at the high end for the same bachelor's in marketing. Against the national median of $125,470 a year, the cheaper degree pays its tuition back far faster.
A higher price does not automatically buy a stronger degree. Weigh each school's graduation rate and net price, not just its sticker tuition, and use its net price calculator for your own situation before comparing.
Accreditation and Value: What to Check First
Every school ranked here is accredited and reports to the federal IPEDS system, so the Hakia Score never rewards an unaccredited program for being cheap or convenient. Accreditation is what makes a marketing degree count with employers, licensing boards, and other schools, so confirm it on the program's own page before enrolling, not after.
Low tuition only pays off when the degree finishes and counts. That is why this ranking weighs completion alongside cost: a cheap program that graduates a fraction of its students is not a bargain. Where a field carries programmatic accreditation on top of institutional accreditation, look for it too.
Marketing Careers and Pay After a Mississippi Program
Every degree on this list points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay in the field at $125,470 a year, a figure that applies across the profession rather than to any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $8,435 or $21,000 a year in tuition. That is the core tradeoff this ranking is built to expose: a higher price does not buy a higher starting salary in the federal wage data.
Full occupational detail, including job-growth projections and state-level wage breakdowns, is published by the BLS. Graduates of any ranked Mississippi program compete in that same national pay structure.
Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best marketing bachelor's degree in Mississippi?
By Hakia Score, Mississippi State University ranks first among the 6 marketing programs in Mississippi we analyzed, with an 80.2 score and a 67% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, in-state cost, and outcomes, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one.
How much does a marketing bachelor's degree cost in Mississippi?
In-state tuition among the ranked Mississippi programs runs from $8,435 to $21,000 a year. These are resident rates at public schools; out-of-state students pay more, so confirm your residency status and check the out-of-state column before comparing.
Is an online marketing bachelor's degree respected by employers?
Yes, when the school is accredited. An accredited online degree lists the same on a transcript as the on-campus version, and accreditation, not delivery format, is what protects the credential. Every program ranked here is accredited and reporting to the federal IPEDS system.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $125,470 a year for the field. That is a national benchmark, not an Mississippi-specific figure or a promised outcome for any single school, but it is the number every tuition dollar on this page should be measured against.
How the Marketing Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.