Mississippi university campus representing computer programming education
Updated December 2025

Best Computer Programming Programs in Mississippi: Top Schools & Colleges Ranked

Ranking 17 top accredited computer programming programs in Mississippi. Compare schools by tuition, graduation rates, and career outcomes in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg.

Programs Ranked17
Median Salary$82,450
Cost of Living83.3%
Tech Hubs3

Top 3 Computer Programming Programs in Mississippi 2025

๐Ÿฅ‡ #1

Belhaven University

Jackson, MSPrivate

9 computer programming graduates annually, 95% graduation rate

$29K
Tuition/yr
95%
Grad Rate
54.9
Score
๐Ÿฅˆ #2

Mississippi College

Clinton, MSPrivate

10 computer programming graduates annually, 84% graduation rate

$20K
Tuition/yr
84%
Grad Rate
53.6
Score
๐Ÿฅ‰ #3

Jones County Junior College

Ellisville, MSPublic

9 computer programming graduates annually, N/A% graduation rate

$4K
Tuition/yr
44.3
Score
Key Takeaways
  • 1.Mississippi offers 17+ accredited computer programming programs across public and private universities
  • 2.Belhaven University leads with 95% graduation rate
  • 3.Mississippi software developers earn median $82,450 annually (BLS OES 2024)
  • 4.Tech opportunities concentrated in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg
  • 5.Cost of living index: 83.3% of US average (below average)

Computer Programming Education in Mississippi: Overview

Mississippi offers 17 accredited computer programming programs, producing approximately 144 graduates annually. The state's tech industry is centered in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, with major employers including C Spire, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin.

With a median software developer salary of $82,450 (BLS OES May 2024) and a cost of living index of 83.3% compared to the US average, Mississippi offers above-average purchasing power for tech workers.

The top computer programming programs in the state are led by Belhaven University, Mississippi College, Jones County Junior College, each offering distinct advantages in terms of program size, graduation rates, and industry connections.

Mississippi Computer Programming Programs Rankings 2025

Rank
1Belhaven UniversityJackson, MSPrivate$28,80095%54.9
2Mississippi CollegeClinton, MSPrivate$20,24684%53.6
3Jones County Junior CollegeEllisville, MSPublic$3,750โ€”44.3
4Jackson State UniversityJackson, MSPublic$8,520100%43
5Rust CollegeHolly Springs, MSPrivate$11,385โ€”42.9
6Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, MSPrivate$10,258โ€”40.2
7Itawamba Community CollegeFulton, MSPublic$3,100โ€”34.9
8Northwest Mississippi Community CollegeSenatobia, MSPublic$3,400โ€”33.8
9Hinds Community CollegeRaymond, MSPublic$3,550โ€”33.5
10Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegePerkinston, MSPublic$3,300โ€”32.2
11Northeast Mississippi Community CollegeBooneville, MSPublic$3,650โ€”31.8
12Copiah-Lincoln Community CollegeWesson, MSPublic$3,500โ€”30.6
13East Mississippi Community CollegeScooba, MSPublic$3,500โ€”30.6
14Meridian Community CollegeMeridian, MSPublic$3,658โ€”28.6
15Pearl River Community CollegePoplarville, MSPublic$3,400โ€”28.6
16Holmes Community CollegeGoodman, MSPublic$2,700โ€”27.9
17Mississippi Delta Community CollegeMoorhead, MSPublic$3,450โ€”27.9

Top 5 Computer Programming Programs in Mississippi: Side-by-Side

SchoolBelhavenMississippi CollegeJones County Junior CollegeJackson StateRust College
Rank
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
In-State Tuition
$28,800
$20,246
$3,750
$8,520
$11,385
Graduation Rate
95%
84%
N/A%
100%
N/A%
Annual Graduates
9
10
9
2
3
Acceptance Rate
53%
49%
N/A
91%
35%
Type
Private
Private
Public
Public
Private
Score
54.9/100
53.6/100
44.3/100
43.0/100
42.9/100

Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Computer Programming in Mississippi

Mississippi offers 4 bachelor's-level computer programming programs. The top schools for undergraduate study are Belhaven University, Mississippi College, Rust College. These programs prepare students for entry-level positions paying approximately $57,715 in the Mississippi market.

A bachelor's in computer programming typically requires 120-128 credit hours and takes 4 years to complete. For national rankings, see our Best Computer Programming Bachelor's Programs guide.

Top 3 Computer Programming Bachelor's Programs in Mississippi

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 Belhaven
$28,800
95%
9
54.9
#2 Mississippi College
$20,246
84%
10
53.6
#3 Rust College
$11,385
N/A%
3
42.9

Top Computer Programming Schools for Master's Degrees in Mississippi

For graduate study, Mississippi offers 1 master's-level computer programming programs. Leading institutions include Mississippi College. A master's degree can boost earning potential by 15-25%, with senior roles in Mississippi reaching $107,185 or more.

Explore our complete national rankings of the best computer programming master's programs for more options beyond Mississippi.

Top 3 Computer Programming Master's Programs in Mississippi

SchoolTuitionGrad RateGraduatesScore
#1 Mississippi College
$20,246
84%
1
46.1

Most Affordable Computer Programming Colleges in Mississippi

For budget-conscious students, the most affordable computer programming programs in Mississippi are at Holmes Community College ($2,700/year), Itawamba Community College ($3,100/year), Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ($3,300/year). These programs offer strong ROI given Mississippi's competitive tech salaries.

At Holmes Community College, a 4-year degree costs approximately $10,800 in tuition alone. With entry-level salaries around $57,715, graduates can typically recoup their investment within 0.5 years. See our Most Affordable Computer Programming Programs for national comparisons.

Most Affordable Computer Programming Programs in Mississippi (with ROI)

SchoolAnnual Tuition4-Year CostPayback PeriodType
#1 Holmes Community College
$2,700
$10,800
0.5 years
Public
#2 Itawamba Community College
$3,100
$12,400
0.5 years
Public
#3 Mississippi Gulf Coast...
$3,300
$13,200
0.6 years
Public

Detailed Program Spotlights: Inside the Top 5 Computer Programming Schools in Mississippi

Below are detailed profiles of the top 5 computer programming programs in Mississippi, including admissions requirements, curriculum highlights, career outcomes, and what makes each program unique. Data sourced from official university websites and IPEDS 2023.

#11 Designation

Belhaven University

Jackson, MS โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
Visit Program

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $28,800 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 95% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Computer Programming Graduates: 9 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 53%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 54.9 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 95% graduation rate
  • 9 computer programming graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 54.9 / 100

Why Ranked #1

Ranked #1 based on graduation rate (95%), program size (9 graduates), state salary outcomes ($82,450), and selectivity (53% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Why Choose This Program

Information about the Computer Programming program's specific differentiators was not found in the provided content, which focused on general university curriculum administration policies.

Program Accreditations & Designations
SACSCOC
Program Details
  • Credits: 124 semester hours
#2

Mississippi College

Clinton, MS โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $20,246 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 84% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Computer Programming Graduates: 10 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 49%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 53.6 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 84% graduation rate
  • 10 computer programming graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 53.6 / 100

Why Ranked #2

Ranked #2 based on graduation rate (84%), program size (10 graduates), state salary outcomes ($82,450), and selectivity (49% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

#3

Jones County Junior College

Ellisville, MS โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-Campus

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $3,750 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Computer Programming Graduates: 9 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: N/A%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 44.3 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 9 computer programming graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 44.3 / 100

Why Ranked #3

Ranked #3 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (9 graduates), state salary outcomes ($82,450), and selectivity (N/A% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

#4

Jackson State University

Jackson, MS โ€ข Public

Delivery:On-Campus

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $8,520 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: 100% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Computer Programming Graduates: 2 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 91%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 43.0 / 100

Program Strengths

  • 100% graduation rate
  • 2 computer programming graduates annually
  • Public institution
  • Overall score: 43.0 / 100

Why Ranked #4

Ranked #4 based on graduation rate (100%), program size (2 graduates), state salary outcomes ($82,450), and selectivity (91% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

#5

Rust College

Holly Springs, MS โ€ข Private

Delivery:On-Campus
Visit Program

Program Highlights

  • โ€ข Annual Tuition: $11,385 (in-state)
  • โ€ข Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
  • โ€ข Computer Programming Graduates: 3 annually
  • โ€ข Acceptance Rate: 35%
  • โ€ข Ranking Score: 42.9 / 100

Program Strengths

  • N/A% graduation rate
  • 3 computer programming graduates annually
  • Private institution
  • Overall score: 42.9 / 100

Why Ranked #5

Ranked #5 based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (3 graduates), state salary outcomes ($82,450), and selectivity (35% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

$57,715
Starting Salary
$82,450
Mid-Career
+17%
Job Growth
173
Annual Openings

Career Paths

+17%

Software Developer opportunities in Mississippi with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$81,874

Systems Analyst

SOC 15-1211
+10%

Systems Analyst opportunities in Mississippi with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$83,939

IT Manager

SOC 15-1299
+15%

IT Manager opportunities in Mississippi with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$87,866
+15%

Technical Consultant opportunities in Mississippi with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$76,218

Database Administrator opportunities in Mississippi with strong job growth.

Median Salary:$81,370

Computer Programming Programs in Other States

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Mississippi if...
  • You want access to tech jobs in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg
  • You're seeking lower cost of living (83.3% of US average)
  • You want to work at companies like C Spire or Raytheon
  • You prefer Mississippi's quality of life
Consider other states if...
  • You prioritize highest possible salary (consider CA, WA, NY)
  • You want more program options (CA has 100+ vs Mississippi's 17)
  • You're looking for major coastal tech hub concentration

Computer Programming in Mississippi FAQ

Ranking Methodology

Based on 17 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024

Program Strength35%

Computer Programming degree completions indicating program size, faculty, and resources (IPEDS 2023)

Graduation Rate25%

6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023

Selectivity20%

Admission rate from IPEDS 2023 (lower = more selective)

Career Outcomes20%

Mississippi-specific salaries from BLS OES May 2024

Related Resources

Data Sources & Methodology

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System - program completions, graduation rates, tuition, admissions

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - Mississippi salary data

2023-2033 occupational outlook and growth projections

Official University Websites

Program-specific admissions, curriculum, and career outcome data

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