Best Online Colleges in Mississippi

Benefits of Studying Online in Mississippi

Tucked away in the South Central region of the United States is the Magnolia State - Mississippi. With a total population of nearly 3 million, Mississippi is the 34th largest state in America, covering an area of 48,432 square miles (the 32nd largest of any state). Although Mississippi may not hold the same political or educational influence as some of it's more northern counterparts, it has an abundance of natural beauty, culture and educational opportunity.

Employment Stats

The data regarding employment in the state of Mississippi is mixed - it ranks as the 35th largest employer (1,152,700 people at the end of 2022), making up just 0.75% of the national total of employed persons. The total number of people employed in Mississippi in 2022 was 0.1 more than 2021, creating a marginal increase of 0.01%. This was the 51st lowest growth rate in the nation, indicating relatively static employment levels in the past year or two. Unfortunately, the amount employed in Mississippi falls short of the median by 825,00 (42%) vacancies.

That being said, Mississippi did manage to beat out Nebraska, which claimed the 36th spot with 1,039,000 citizens employed - 114,000 less than Mississippi's total number. Arkansas almost beat out Mississippi for the #34 spot, with 1,325,000 people employed, but it didn't quite edge out Mississippi's figure by a margin of 172,000 (or 13.0%). That being said, Mississippi is still 93% behind the national leader (California), which comes as no surprise since Mississippi only accounts for 0.9% of the nation’s population.

Job Opportunities

Mississippi is a unique state, and with more than 600 unique occupations (687 to be exact) there’s plenty of labor diversity, putting the state in the 32nd slot out of all US states. That’s 4.8% below the national median of 722, giving Louisiana the badge of median job type quantity among states.

Mississippi is home to a number of universities, the highest ranked of which being Mississippi State University in Starkville. The university claims the title of being the state’s largest, providing education to more than 22,000 students. The state is also home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including International Paper and Tyson Foods. Mississippi also has a number of incredibly diverse industries, ranging from technology to music production, so students are likely to find something they’re passionate about.

The state also boasts some phenomenal weather, with summer temperatures rarely dipping below the low 70s. Although Mississippi has its regions of extreme weather, the state is still very comparable to some of the other southern states in terms of climate. With its strong job market, reasonable real estate prices, and diverse industries, Mississippi may prove to be an ideal destination for college graduates and those looking to jumpstart their career.

Furthermore, Mississippi is a great place to study online. Although it is not the largest or most influential state, Mississippi offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities. The state has a large area and low population density - providing an abundance of space for exploration and study. From an economic standpoint, the Magnolia State’s workforce is not growing throughout 2022, but the employment rate is still strong with more than 1.1 million people employed around the state - beating out some of it’s larger neighbors. Therefore, despite the small population, Mississippi offers plenty of job opportunity and can be a great place to get an education and start a career.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)