Management Information Systems and Services at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's MIS program lands graduates in jobs paying $46K initially—about $13,000 below the national median for this degree and roughly $9,000 under the Mississippi median. While the program sits in the bottom quarter statewide (25th percentile), the debt load of $27,750 is only slightly above both state and national averages, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. The University of Mississippi's competing program shows what's possible in-state, with graduates earning $17,000 more right out of the gate.

The earnings trajectory provides some reassurance: graduates see solid 26% growth to $58K by year four, closing part of that initial gap. However, even with this improvement, they're still trailing peers who started at higher-paying programs. For a field like information systems—where technical skills should translate fairly directly to market-rate salaries—these below-average outcomes raise questions about either curriculum strength or employer connections.

The math works if your child can keep debt near or below the median amount, but understand they'll be starting behind most MIS graduates nationally. If they have offers from Ole Miss or out-of-state alternatives with stronger placement records, those deserve serious consideration despite potential tuition differences.