Head-to-head comparison
Mississippi State University vs Hinds Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Mississippi State, MS
Mississippi State University
- Net price / year
- $17,595
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,513
- Payback
- 22.3 yrs
Option B Raymond, MS
Hinds Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,060
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,774
- Payback
- No payback
Mississippi State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,380 in 22.3 years versus not at all at Hinds Community College, on median earnings of $51,513 vs $30,774 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mississippi State University | Hinds Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,595 | $4,060 |
| Total net cost | $70,380 | $8,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,513 | $30,774 |
| Median debt | $22,142 | $9,371 |
| Payback | 22.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$7,320 | -$359,840 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mississippi State University or Hinds Community College?
Hinds Community College, at $4,060 a year after aid versus $17,595 — a gap of $13,535 a year, or $62,260 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 Mississippi State University or Hinds Community College graduates earn more?
Mississippi State University graduates report a median $51,513 ten years after entry, $20,739 more than the $30,774 at Hinds Community College. 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, Mississippi State University or Hinds Community College?
Hinds Community College: its completers carry a median $9,371 in federal loans versus $22,142 at Mississippi State University, a difference of $12,771. 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?
67% of students finish at Mississippi State University, against 43% at Hinds Community College. 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.