Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's liberal arts program lands right in the middle nationally but trails several in-state alternatives. At $36,318 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $400 less than the Mississippi median and lag behind competitors like Jackson State ($41,812) and Ole Miss ($37,174). That's a meaningful gap when you're making early-career financial decisions—over $5,000 less annually than Jackson State graduates in the same field.

The debt burden of $28,435 is reasonable relative to earnings (0.78 ratio), and actually below both state and national medians. This school won't bury your child in debt compared to peer programs. However, the combination of middle-of-the-pack earnings and moderate debt means this program doesn't offer a clear financial advantage. The 40th percentile ranking within Mississippi suggests you're getting a slightly below-average return for a general studies degree in the state.

For families paying in-state tuition, this represents a safe but unexceptional choice. If your child is set on Mississippi State for other reasons—campus fit, specific opportunities—the financial picture isn't alarming. But if liberal arts earning potential matters, consider whether competitors like Jackson State or Southern Miss might deliver better outcomes without significantly more debt.