Best nursing schools in Mississippi: Largest to smallest

The Mississippi healthcare sector employs approximately 50,000 nurses in several different types of roles. Both private and public employers are contributing to the rapid expansion of the nursing profession. Important employers within the state include the US Department of Veterans Affairs and Tenet Healthcare.

Roughly half of Mississippi’s nurses are employed as registered nurses (RNs). Another 15,000 work as nursing assistants, while licensed practical nurses number about 10,000. In addition, a few thousand nurses hold advanced degrees that enable them to serve as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). While all nurses are well paid, a substantial pay increase typically accompanies promotion into a senior role. For example, the median annual salary of a Mississippi RN is $55,000, while the state’s APRNs earn an average of $90,000 per year.

Find a school

To feed the growing demand for nurses, Mississippi offers a range of nursing programs at both public and private schools. Since they are subsidized by state funds, public colleges and universities offer a variety of certificate and degree programs at affordable tuition. These schools are well known by employers because they graduate a large number of the state’s nurses. However, many students benefit from the individual focus and small class sizes offered by private schools. Thanks to comprehensive financial assistance programs, prestigious private institutions like Mississippi College and William Carey University are within reach of most aspiring nurses.

To help Mississippi’s future nurses find the best school for their needs, we have put together a broad list of the state’s nursing colleges and universities. You’ll find them organized below by metropolitan area and class size.