Skip to main content

Mississippi College Ranks Among America’s Most Affordable Christian Universities


Mississippi College is a real bargain for thousands of students each year, says a new survey of America’s Christian universities.

In fact, the 5,000-student university based in Clinton ranks No. 8 in a report showcasing the nation’s 50 most affordable Christian colleges.

A handy resource for students and families, Christian Universities Online released its evaluation in late July after measuring data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Mississippi College students, graduates and leaders at the Baptist-affiliated school believe the new survey is right on the money.

“Mississippi College is not as cheap as public schools, but offers good scholarships for transfer students,” says MC junior Lauren DeMuth, 20, of Raymond. “That makes it more affordable.”

There were other reasons why the recent graduate of the Hinds Community College Raymond campus selected Mississippi College. “The Christian environment is a plus, but the kinesiology program is one of the main reasons I came here,” DeMuth said as she studied at the Leland Speed Library.

Mississippi College leaders are not surprised to see the Baptist-affiliated university receive a strong national ranking for its price tag.

“The new ranking from Christian Universities Online confirms our message to stakeholders – that Mississippi College offers a quality, Christian education at a reasonable price during difficult times for the nation’s economy,” President Lee Royce said Wednesday.

“At MC, we’ve made it a priority to keep our tuition and other costs as manageable as possible for students and their families,” Royce added.

Dr. Royce isn’t the only one delighted to see the state’s largest private university highlighted in the survey. Other schools listed include Carson-Newman University in Jeffersonville, Tennessee, Louisiana College in Pineville, La., East Texas Baptist University, Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, Fresno Pacific University, and Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. MC’s net price is listed by Christian Universities Online at $15,712 per-year.

The facts back up MC’s solid national ranking, says admissions director Kyle Brantley. MC’s cost is about $10,000 less per year than the average private university, he noted. Mississippi College also awards about $53 million in scholarships and financial aid to help reduce prices for students each year.

Students have much to choose from on the Clinton campus with more than 80 areas of study, 16 graduate degree programs, a law school in Jackson, and doctorates in educational leadership and professional counseling. Founded in 1826, MC is the nation’s second oldest Baptist college.

Mississippi College was ranked among the South’s 27 best regional universities in the Fall 2013 issue of “U.S. News & World Report” and rated among the “best values” in the region.

“I’d tell anybody to go here,” says Clinton Park Elementary School teacher Hilary Rawson Vosen. The Madison resident earned her bachelor’s degree in 2011 and master’s in 2013, both at MC. “It’s encouraging to be part of a Christian environment.”

For MC graduate student Darrow Thomas of Montgomery, Alabama, the cost to enroll on the Clinton campus was really a secondary factor.

The May 2013 University of Alabama graduate said he primarily selected MC because of its outstanding master’s program in biomedical sciences. On track to graduate in December 2014, Thomas, 23, believes his Mississippi College studies will prepare him to enter either medical or dental school in 2015. But he looked over the institution’s price tag, too. “MC is really affordable.”

For more information on the “50 Most Affordable Christian Colleges in the U.S.” go to http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/most-affordable-christian-colleges/.