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PublicRuralHBCU

Mississippi Valley State University

Itta Bena, Mississippi 38941-1400

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublicHBCU

Close-knit campus — excellent value

Mississippi Valley State University is a public institution in Itta Bena with particular strength in biology and business. With an average SAT of 910, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.3K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

22% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $31,919 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $11,812.

Established
1950
Motto
"Live for Service"
Mascot
Delta Devil
Type
Public historically black university
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

51%Acceptance
910SAT Avg
1,326Students
13:1Student:Faculty
22%Grad Rate
$31,919Earnings 10yr
$11,812Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Mississippi Valley State University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate51.2%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 16
1418

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

51.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

910

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,912
Tuition (out-of-state)$7,912
Room & Board$8,112
Books & Supplies$2,000
Total Cost of Attendance$21,606
Average Net Price$11,812
Median Debt at Graduation$28,413
Monthly Payment (10yr)$301

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$11,034
$30–48K$12,613
$48–75K$14,074
$75–110K$12,513
$110K+$10,335

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

46.1%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,203

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

7

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (35)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

58%

Negative
  • •58% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,326
Gender Split
50% / 50%
Women / Men
First Generation
43%
Pell Grant Recipients
60%

Race & Ethnicity

White 2%
Black 89%
Hispanic 2%
Two+ 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate22.1%
Freshman Retention57.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$25,817
10 Years$31,919

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • •In 1964, Mississippi Vocational College was renamed Mississippi Valley State College.
  • •In February 1969, a nonviolent student boycott, which included eight hundred students, male and female, was organized to protest President James Herbert White's administration.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MEM Memphis108 mi
BHM Birmingham207 mi
MSY New Orleans243 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1211 mi · ~34h 59m drive
New York, NY1026 mi · ~29h 38m drive
Hartford, CT1119 mi · ~32h 20m drive
Providence, RI1180 mi · ~34h 5m drive
Albany, NY1098 mi · ~31h 43m drive
Syracuse, NY1011 mi · ~29h 12m drive
Rochester, NY957 mi · ~27h 39m drive
Buffalo, NY897 mi · ~25h 55m drive
Philadelphia, PA949 mi · ~27h 25m drive
Pittsburgh, PA744 mi · ~21h 30m drive
Harrisburg, PA876 mi · ~25h 18m drive
Newark, NJ1019 mi · ~29h 26m drive
Washington, DC829 mi · ~23h 57m drive
Baltimore, MD860 mi · ~24h 51m drive
Atlanta, GA343 mi · ~9h 55m drive
Charlotte, NC554 mi · ~16h drive
Raleigh, NC683 mi · ~19h 44m drive
Miami, FL811 mi · ~23h 26m drive
Orlando, FL632 mi · ~18h 15m drive
Tampa, FL605 mi · ~17h 29m drive
Nashville, TN272 mi · ~7h 51m drive
New Orleans, LA247 mi · ~7h 8m drive
Richmond, VA776 mi · ~22h 25m drive
Chicago, IL597 mi · ~17h 15m drive
Detroit, MI727 mi · ~21h drive
Minneapolis, MN807 mi · ~23h 19m drive
St. Louis, MO353 mi · ~10h 12m drive
Kansas City, MO452 mi · ~13h 3m drive
Indianapolis, IN490 mi · ~14h 9m drive
Columbus, OH603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Cleveland, OH727 mi · ~21h drive
Milwaukee, WI671 mi · ~19h 23m drive
Dallas, TX377 mi · ~10h 53m drive
Houston, TX393 mi · ~11h 21m drive
Austin, TX489 mi · ~14h 8m drive
San Antonio, TX557 mi · ~16h 5m drive
Los Angeles, CA1598 mi · ~46h 10m drive
San Francisco, CA1816 mi · ~52h 28m drive
San Diego, CA1549 mi · ~44h 45m drive
Seattle, WA1921 mi · ~55h 30m drive
Portland, OR1896 mi · ~54h 46m drive
Denver, CO918 mi · ~26h 31m drive
Phoenix, AZ1250 mi · ~36h 7m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1284 mi · ~37h 6m drive
Honolulu, HI4156 mi · ~120h 4m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Memphis (MEM)108 miles
Rental car
162 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
216 min$130-216
Birmingham (BHM)207 miles
Rental car
311 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
414 min$248-414

Deadline Calendar

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Mississippi Valley State University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Mississippi Valley State University — v2 Preview — TourStack