Educational Attainment
About 23.8% of Mississippi adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the lowest share in the country.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502MS).
| Indicator | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8 | 34.3 |
- •Mississippi has the lowest four-year college attainment rate of any U.S. state.
Schools
Mississippi has about 1,030 public schools across 138 school districts.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
- •Mississippi consolidated dozens of small school districts over the past 15 years to cut costs.
Universities
Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss lead the state system, alongside historically Black universities such as Jackson State.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
Graduation Rates
Mississippi's public high school graduation rate was about 88.6% in 2023.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 88.6 | 87 |
- •Mississippi's graduation rate has risen substantially since statewide reading reforms began in the 2010s.
Student Enrollment
Mississippi public schools enrolled about 443,000 K-12 students in the 2023 school year.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
- •Mississippi's celebrated gains in early-grade reading scores followed its 2013 literacy law.
Student-Teacher Ratios
Mississippi public schools average about 14.6 students per teacher, near the national average.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-teacher ratio | 14.6 | 15.4 |
- •Teacher shortages remain acute in Mississippi's Delta and rural districts.