College Search
Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State University

Itta Bena, MS · Rural · 1,439 students
Website Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$9,686
Average net priceYour net price
In-state
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
24%
Graduation rate
50% typical
$31,919
Earnings 10 years on
$48,772 typical
92%
Acceptance rate
77% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Mississippi Valley State University is a close-knit public historically Black university (HBCU) situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, widely recognized for its accessible educational pathways and strong programs in education, criminal justice, social work, and business administration. Campus life is shaped by a deeply supportive "Valley Family" community enriched by vibrant Greek traditions, NCAA Division I SWAC athletics, and the high-energy performances of the renowned Mean Green Marching Machine band. Distinguished as the alma mater of NFL legend Jerry Rice, MVSU serves as a vital cultural and economic anchor for the rural Delta region, offering exceptionally affordable tuition paired with small class sizes that foster direct faculty mentorship.

Wikipedia:Mississippi Valley State University is a public historically black university in Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi, adjacent to Itta Bena, Mississippi. MVSU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Location
Itta Bena, MS, 38941-1400 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
MEM · Memphis
108 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$7,692$7,692
Housing & food (on campus)$8,956$8,956
Books & supplies$2,000$2,000
Cost of attendance$21,154$21,746
Average net price$9,686Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$7,692
Housing & food (on campus)$8,956
Books & supplies$2,000
Cost of attendance$21,746
In-state: $21,154
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $9,686
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.mvsu.edu
How it’s made up
Tuition$7,474
Fees$20
Books & supplies$2,400
Personal expenses$1,195
Transportation$1,185
Total published by the school$21,746
Source: www.mvsu.edu
Net price by family income · in-state students
$0–30k
$9,073
$30–48k
$9,076
$48–75k
$9,627
$75–110k
$12,440
$110k+
$17,479
Grants from the school
96% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $4,366
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
24%
Within 4 yrs
15%
Back for yr 2
70%
Transferred
0%
Pell students: 24.4% · others: 34.5% 
8 yrs after starting
29% graduated · 29% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 42% left or unknown
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$25,817
10 yrs after entry$31,919
Debt
Median at graduation$28,413
Monthly payment$301
Middle 50% owe$8.5k–$32k
90th percentile$45,000
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
92%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
870
ACT midpoint
16
Comp 13–17 · E 11–16 · M 14–16
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 89.8% · women 94.4% 
Yield: 32.3% of admitted students enroll 

Wondering if Mississippi Valley State University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search
Essay prompts

If Mississippi Valley State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 50%Women 50%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
13 : 1
Pell grant
56%
First-gen
43%
Family income
$16,762
Independent
22%
Age at entry
21.0
Part-time
28%
Where first-years come from
In state (MS)
40.0%
Out of state
56.8%
International
2.6%

Most out-of-state first-years from: TN 74 · LA 28 · TX 25 · GA 10 · IL 10

Race & ethnicity
White
3%
Hispanic
2%
Black
91%
Asian
1%
Unknown
3%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FCS
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$25,817
After 10 yrs
$31,919
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities34
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods31
Biology, General28
Business Administration, Management and Operations24
Social Work20
Criminal Justice and Corrections15
Music13
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication12
Chemistry11
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness10
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians9
Computer and Information Sciences, General8
Mathematics7
Sociology4
Non-Professional Legal Studies3
Accounting and Related Services3
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$4M
Full-time faculty
62%
Faculty salary
$6,733/mo
Teaching spend
$11,446
per student
Federal loans
49%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (small programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

Wondering if Mississippi Valley State University is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search