The University evaluates success in terms of student achievement, consistent with its mission. The following criteria are used to determine student success.
Course Success Rate Job/Continuing Education Placement Law Job & Clerkship Placement
Passage of Professional Licensing Exams: Education Law Nursing Physician Assistant Writing Proficiency
Student Loan Default Rate
Course Success Rate
| Department | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | Threshold | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 93.79% | 95.59% | 94.59% | 93.00% | 95.00% |
| Art | 97.68% | 97.81% | 97.58% | 97.00% | 98.50% |
| Biology | 96.49% | 97.21% | 96.25% | 95.10% | 98.10% |
| Business Administration | 96.71% | 95.76% | 96.22% | 94.00% | 96.00% |
| Chemistry | 93.78% | 97.22% | 95.64% | 94.00% | 97.00% |
| Christian Studies | 96.30% | 96.84% | 97.11% | 96.00% | 97.50% |
| Communication | 97.36% | 97.95% | 97.54% | 97.00% | 98.50% |
| Computer Science | 96.11% | 97.31% | 96.24% | 94.70% | 98.00% |
| Education | 98.60% | 98.97% | 99.91% | 97.10% | 99.95% |
| English & Philosophy | 95.74% | 96.73% | 96.04% | 95.75% | 97.00% |
| History & Political Science |
95.74% |
96.85% | 96.14% | 95.75% | 97.00% |
| Kinesiology | 98.57% | 98.63% | 97.72% | 96.22% | 99.10% |
| Mathematics | 93.97% | 95.39% | 95.12% | 93.30% | 96.30% |
| Modern Languages | 95.88% | 98.75% | 98.71% | 98.00% | 99.25% |
| Music | 98.44% | 98.07% | 98.08% | 98.00% | 99.00% |
| Nursing | 99.25% | 99.30% | 98.79% | 95.00% | 99.11% |
| Physics | 98.03% | 94.32% | 98.45% | 95.40% | 98.40% |
| Psychology & Counseling | 98.34% | 98.69% | 99.14% | 96.84% | 99.60% |
| Sociology & Social Work | 98.18% | 99.19% | 98.02% | 98.00% | 99.25% |
Passage of Professional Licensing Exams
School of Education
Department of Counseling
Praxis Passage Rate (exam not given before 2008)
Goal: Of graduating counseling education graduate students, 90% of each class will pass the Praxis II Content area exam.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percent | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE)
Goal: Of the graduating students taking the CPCE exam within a 12-month test cycle, exam participants will pass the NBCC exam with a 50% or better.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percent | 94% | 78% | 65% | 94% |
Department of Psychology & Social Work
Social Work Licensure Exam for Undergraduates
Goal: Social Work graduates will score at or above the national average and above the state average. The standard requires that 75% of graduates who take the Mississippi Board of Examiners Licensing Exam pass.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percent | 82% | 80% | 83% | 78% |
Department of Teacher Education & Leadership
Mississippi Teacher Licensure: Elementary Education
Goal: Of graduating Elementary Education students, 90% of each class will pass the 5017 Content Knowledge Praxis II exam.
| 2021-2022* | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percent Passed | N/A* | 94% | 94% | 100% |
Mississippi Teaching Licensure: Secondary Education
Goal: Of graduating Secondary Education students, 90% of each class will pass the Praxis II exam.
| Area | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Art | N/A* | 100% | 75% | 100% |
| Biology | N/A* | 100% | N/A | N/A |
| English | N/A* | N/A* | 100% | 100% |
| Kinesiology | N/A* | N/A* | 100% | 100% |
| Math | N/A* | 100% | 100% | N/A |
| Music | N/A* | N/A* | 100% | N/A |
| Social Studies | N/A* | N/A* | 100% | 100% |
The School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA)
Mississippi State Department of Education Standard: 80% (3-year average)
Goal: Of graduating graduate students studying educational leadership in the licensure track, at least 80% will pass the SLLA exam.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percentage | N/A* | 92% | 97% | 100% |
School of Law
Bar Exam
Goal: In 2019, the ABA updated Standard 316 on bar passage. Under this standard—applied retroactively to students who graduated in 2017—at least 75% of a law school’s graduates who take the bar exam must pass within two years of graduation.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Passing within two years | 74% | 75% | 73% | 80% |
School of Nursing
National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)
Goal: Of all pre-licensure nursing students, 95% of each class will pass the NCLEX-RN within 12 months of graduation.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| Percent Passed | 99% | 100% | 98% | TBD |
School of Science & Mathematics
Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
Goal: Physician assistant students will achieve a first-time pass rate on the PANCE that meets or exceeds the national average.
| 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | |
| MC PA % | 93% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| National % | 93% | 92% | 92% | 92% |
Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE)
Goal: At least 80% of undergraduate MC students will pass the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) on their first attempt.
| First-Time MC Student Pass Rates | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Percentage | 85% | 85% | 83% | 85% |
Job/Continuing Education Placement Rates
| Class of | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| School of Business | Employed | 56% | 67% | 57% | 41% |
| Continuing Education | 12% | 10% | 8% | 12% | |
| School of Education | Employed | 59% | 63% | 52% | 63% |
| Continuing Education | 19% | 22% | 17% | 22% | |
| School of Nursing | Employed | 67% | 78% | 61% | 78% |
| Continuing Education | 2% | 3% | 3% | 3% | |
| School of Christian Studies and the Arts | Employed | 41% | 56% | 47% | 56% |
| Continuing Education | 13% | 11% | 11% | 11% | |
| School of Humanities and Social Sciences | Employed | 21% | 35% | 23% | 35% |
| Continuing Education | 21% | 29% | 28% | 29% | |
| School of Science and Mathematics | Employed | 18% | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| Continuing Education | 59% | 59% | 50% | 59% | |
| Overall Average Post-Graduation Plans Rate | 69% | 77% | 57.3% | 79% |
Goal: The University's goal for the percentage of students with post-graduation plans is 83.4%.
Law Job and Clerkship Placement
Goal: MC Law aims for an overall job placement rate of 83% and 6 judicial clerkship placements.
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Employment 10 Months after Graduating | 81% | 85% | 91% | 86% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 9 | 10 | 15 | 14 |
Student Loan Default Rate
Goal: The University's Student Loan Default Rate for Direct Loans is 4.68%.
| Loan Default Rate | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
| Direct | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* |
