Mississippi doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 8 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 8 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Cleveland came out on top.
The 8 Best College Towns In Mississippi For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Mississippi's towns land among the best college towns in America.
For more reading, check out:
| Colleges | Delta State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,620 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,623 |
| Median rent | $943 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,445 |
Cleveland is home to Delta State University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $943 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,445 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Mississippi University for Women |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,605 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 23,348 |
| Median rent | $897 |
| Graduation rate | 56% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,225 |
Columbus is home to Mississippi University for Women. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $897 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,225 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 12,276 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 48,619 |
| Median rent | $1,005 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $28,108 |
Hattiesburg is home to University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,005 a month, and the average cost to attend is $28,108 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Mississippi Christian University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,518 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 27,195 |
| Median rent | $1,118 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $41,214 |
Clinton is home to Mississippi Christian University. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,118 a month, and the average cost to attend is $41,214 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Jackson State University, Belhaven University, Strayer University-Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,502 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 146,631 |
| Median rent | $1,055 |
| Graduation rate | 42% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $44,090 |
Jackson is home to Jackson State University, Belhaven University, Strayer University-Mississippi. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,055 a month, and the average cost to attend is $44,090 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Wesley Biblical Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 24 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 24,587 |
| Median rent | $1,336 |
| Graduation rate | 44% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,788 |
Ridgeland is home to Wesley Biblical Seminary. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,336 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,788 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Rust College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 467 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 6,704 |
| Median rent | $773 |
| Graduation rate | 35% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,107 |
Holly Springs is home to Rust College. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $773 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,107 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southeastern Baptist College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 93 (1 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,679 |
| Median rent | $909 |
| Graduation rate | 14% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $13,325 |
Laurel is home to Southeastern Baptist College. There are 1 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $909 a month, and the average cost to attend is $13,325 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 8 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Mississippi
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 8 towns in Mississippi that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Mississippi.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Mississippi.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Mississippi
If you're looking for the best college towns in Mississippi, Cleveland is where to start.
The best college towns in Mississippi are Cleveland, Columbus, Hattiesburg, Clinton, Jackson, Ridgeland, Holly Springs, and Laurel.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Mississippi for 2026?
Cleveland is the best college town in Mississippi for 2026, followed by Columbus and Hattiesburg.
How did you rank the best college towns in Mississippi?
We looked at every town in Mississippi with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Mississippi?
Laurel ranks last of the 8 college towns we ranked in Mississippi for 2026.
Best College Towns In Mississippi For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, MS | 10,623 | 1,620 | $943 |
| 2 | Columbus, MS | 23,348 | 1,605 | $897 |
| 3 | Hattiesburg, MS | 48,619 | 12,276 | $1,005 |
| 4 | Clinton, MS | 27,195 | 2,518 | $1,118 |
| 5 | Jackson, MS | 146,631 | 7,502 | $1,055 |
| 6 | Ridgeland, MS | 24,587 | 24 | $1,336 |
| 7 | Holly Springs, MS | 6,704 | 467 | $773 |
| 8 | Laurel, MS | 17,679 | 93 | $909 |
Best College Towns By State
Best College Towns In Arkansas
Best College Towns In California
Best College Towns In Colorado
Best College Towns In Connecticut
Best College Towns In Illinois
Best College Towns In Maryland
Best College Towns In Massachusetts
Best College Towns In Michigan
Best College Towns In Minnesota
Best College Towns In Mississippi
Best College Towns In Missouri
Best College Towns In Nebraska
Best College Towns In New Hampshire
Best College Towns In New Jersey
Best College Towns In New Mexico
Best College Towns In New York
Best College Towns In Oklahoma
Best College Towns In Pennsylvania
Best College Towns In Rhode Island
Best College Towns In South Carolina
Best College Towns In South Dakota
Best College Towns In Tennessee
Best College Towns In Virginia
Best College Towns In Washington