Engineering at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's engineering program produces graduates earning $68,045 in their first year—about $5,000 below the national median for engineering majors, but exactly at Mississippi's median (though that comparison is limited since MSU is the only reporting engineering program in the state data). More telling: this places MSU in just the 26th percentile nationally, meaning three-quarters of engineering programs produce higher-earning graduates. The debt load of $19,469 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, but even that sits at the 75th percentile nationally—higher than most peer institutions.

The real question is whether staying in-state makes sense when Mississippi State's engineering outcomes lag behind national competitors. For a Mississippi resident paying in-state tuition, the lower debt might offset weaker earnings compared to out-of-state options. However, families should note the small sample size here (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could swing considerably year to year and may not represent the full program experience.

If your child is committed to staying in Mississippi and values the affordable in-state option, this works as a viable engineering path with reasonable debt. But if stronger job prospects matter more than geography, investigate how MSU's outcomes stack up against specific schools your child is considering—many engineering programs deliver both higher earnings and similar or lower debt levels.