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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Mississippi

5 Colleges in the United States
1,621 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$31,841 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Mississippi

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Southern Mississippi the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 112 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $37,800 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,438 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Southern Mississippi

2

Jones County Junior College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Ellisville. About 529 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Jones County Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Jones County Junior College generally make around $23,319. Jones County Junior College graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Jones County Junior College

3
Alcorn State University crest
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. Alcorn State University graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Alcorn State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Alcorn State University earn around $26,269 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $39,250. Read more about the liberal arts program at Alcorn State University

4

Pearl River Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Pearl River Community College awarded about 626 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Pearl River Community College earn around $19,354 in the first couple years of their career. Pearl River Community College graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Pearl River Community College

5

East Mississippi Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 48 liberal arts degrees were awarded at East Mississippi Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $34,012 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,875. Get the full liberal arts details for East Mississippi Community College

6

Southwest Mississippi Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Southwest Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Summit. There were roughly 259 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Mississippi Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Southwest Mississippi Community College generally make around $50,292. Southwest Mississippi Community College graduates carry a median of $21,057 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Southwest Mississippi Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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