Head-to-head comparison
Alcorn State University vs Mississippi University for Women: which has better ROI?
Option A Alcorn State, MS
Alcorn State University
- Net price / year
- $13,265
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,421
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Columbus, MS
Mississippi University for Women
- Net price / year
- $12,411
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,128
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Mississippi University for Women comes closer — median earnings $46,128 against a $49,644 total, vs $36,421 at Alcorn State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alcorn State University | Mississippi University for Women |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,265 | $12,411 |
| Total net cost | $53,060 | $49,644 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,421 | $46,128 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,840 | -$94,284 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alcorn State University or Mississippi University for Women?
Mississippi University for Women, at $12,411 a year after aid versus $13,265 — a gap of $854 a year, or $3,416 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alcorn State University or Mississippi University for Women graduates earn more?
Mississippi University for Women graduates report a median $46,128 ten years after entry, $9,707 more than the $36,421 at Alcorn State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alcorn State University or Mississippi University for Women?
Mississippi University for Women: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Alcorn State University, a difference of $12,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Alcorn State University, against 47% at Mississippi University for Women. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.