Mississippi Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Mississippi is designed to assist anyone who is looking to become a certified teacher in the state. In order to obtain a teaching degree in Mississippi, aspiring teachers must complete a qualified teacher preparation program in the state. Therefore, it is essential to find the right school that can properly prepare you for a career as an educator. On this page, we have lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews to assist you in finding a school that meets your individual needs and career goals.

Quick Facts

• There are 23 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Mississippi.¹
• 9 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*¹
• 15 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*¹
• 12 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*¹
• 2 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.²
• 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.³
• 4 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁴
• 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁵
• 11 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Mississippi

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

• Millsaps College (#205)
• University of Mississippi (#249)

*Institution-wide ranking.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020

• University of Mississippi

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019

• University of Mississippi (#110 tie)
• Mississippi State University (#118 tie)
• Mississippi College (#195-258)
• William Carey University (#195-258)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019

• University of Mississippi (#34 tie)
• Mississippi State University (#77 tie)
• William Carey University (#105 tie)
• Belhaven University (#205)
• Mississippi College (#228-299)

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Mississippi

Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Mississippi according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Mississippi State Board of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2017-2018 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Alcorn State University: Just outside Lorman, Mississippi and founded in 1871, lies Alcorn State University, home of the Alcorn A’s. The university is recognized in the state as a leader in education and boasts a prominent School of Education and Psychology that grants bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a variety of education disciplines. The Department of Education offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education, Special Education, Psychology and General Studies. The special education program offers a curriculum that leads toward a non-categorical degree for the assistance of mild and moderate handicapped children. The Master of Science in Education and the Educational Specialist degree is offered exclusively in Elementary Education and prepares professional teachers with advanced education, as well as bachelor degree candidates the opportunity to continue their college career.

Jackson State University: The Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education is under the ospreys of the five Departments in the College of Education and Human Development at Jackson State University, a well-respected and accredited university in Jackson, Mississippi. Both undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered within the education department with bachelor, master and doctoral degrees issued. Bachelor of Science degrees are among the most common degree earned in the Education Department at Jackson State, while Master of Arts in Teaching ranks high on the charts as a close second. Doctorate Degree in Early Childhood Education is available for students who wish to educate as high as they can go as an expert in the field of teaching and learning. The graduate degree programs are designed to provide the education needed for professionals to soar within the field and become experts among their colleagues and staff.

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Mississippi

Alcorn State University
1000 ASU Dr Ste 359
Alcorn State, MS 39096-7500
(601) 877-6100
www.alcorn.edu

Blue Mountain College
201 W Main St
Blue Mountain, MS 38610-9509
(662) 685-4771
www.bmc.edu

Coahoma Community College*
3240 Friars Point Rd
Clarksdale, MS 38614
(662) 627-2571
www.coahomacc.edu

Copiah-Lincoln Community College*
1001 Co-Lin Ln
Wesson, MS 39191
(601) 643-8306
www.colin.edu

Delta State University
Hwy 8 West
Cleveland, MS 38733
(662) 846-3000
www.deltastate.edu

East Mississippi Community College*
1512 Kemper St
Scooba, MS 39358-0158
(662) 476-5000

Hinds Community College*
501 E Main St
Raymond, MS 39154
(601) 857-5261

Itawamba Community College*
602 W Hill St
Fulton, MS 38843-1099
(601) 862-8000
www.iccms.edu

Jackson State University
1440 J R Lynch St
Jackson, MS 39217
(601) 979-2121
oim.jsums.edu

Mississippi College
200 S Capitol St
Clinton, MS 39058
(601) 925-3000
www.mc.edu

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College*
51 Main St
Perkinston, MS 39573
(601) 928-5211

Mississippi State University
B.S. Hood Rd
Starkville, MS 39759
(662) 325-2323
https://www.msstate.edu/

Student Review: “The Teacher Preparation Program at Mississippi State University was wonderful for me and too me. This was one of the best experiences of my life. This course work set the foundation in stone for my future. The school work wasn’t the easiest but I studied every single day to make sure I know what was going in in the classes. I worked very hard to make sure I passed everything and to make sure I progressed in life. I learned a lot from this school and the program. I learned not just about school but I also learned a lot of life experiences from the teachers. After the course work, there were people that got us in touch with local schools to set up job interviews and helped us get employment right away. This program and school receive a 10/10 from me.” -Student at Mississippi State University

Student Review: “I went to a wonderful university that exposed me to challenging tasks and real-life experiences that exposed me to culture and the foundations of education. I had many opportunities to work as teams and work as in a long-term partnership in which we collaborated on for every assignment and our practicum hours in the classrooms/schools. I had many educational and professional learning opportunities which I was able to integrate with my own teaching style and meet the learning needs for a variety of students. The college I attended allowed me to meet people from all over the world, learn the different perspectives of all of these cultures, and take classes that taught me more than just teaching the average child. For example, I did take courses and attend professional development resources where I learned about many ways to appeal to the interests and needs for a wide range of students in regards to academics, behavior, or emotional/mental development.” -Student at Mississippi State University

Mississippi University for Women
1100 College St
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 329-4750
www.muw.edu

Mississippi Valley State University
14000 Highway 82 W
Itta Bena, MS 38941-1400
(662) 254-9041
www.mvsu.edu

Northeast Mississippi Community College*
Cunningham Blvd
Booneville, MS 38829
(662) 728-7751

Northwest Mississippi Community College*
4975 Hwy 51 N
Senatobia, MS 38668-1714
(662) 562-3200
www.northwestms.edu

Rust College
150 Rust Ave
Holly Springs, MS 38635
(601) 252-8000
www.rustcollege.edu

University of Mississippi
University, MS 38677-1848
(662) 915-7211
https://olemiss.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Mississippi offers an excellent, fast-track way to become a teacher with its Teach Mississippi Institute program. Under this program, a person already holding a bachelor’s degree can become certified to be a classroom teacher within 12 weeks. The program is online and can be completed even by students who are out of state. The program was very helpful in giving me the knowledge needed to prepare for me to teach in a classroom. What I liked about the program was that it was flexible and I could pretty much complete the coursework at my own pace. I did not have to quit my full-time job while completing the program. The only complaint I have with the program was that it did not offer enough resources to help study for the Praxis subject area tests. However, I did pass them through studying with outside material. Overall, the University of Mississippi’s teacher certification program is a very fast, cost-effective way to become a teacher.” – Student at University of Mississippi

Student Review: “I enrolled and completed the Teach Mississippi Institute alternative route teacher licensure program offered through The University of Southern Mississippi. This educational program was a great option and resource for a working professional looking to make a career change. It allowed for over 90% of the work to be done online. At completion of the course I was able to obtain my teaching license from the State of Mississippi and immediately begin seeking employment. Overall, I believe the program covers a lot of the necessary information needed to prepare someone for entering the classroom. The main weak spot perhaps was the lack of discussion tying lesson planning into meeting state standards. I would recommend this program.” – Student at University of Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr #0001
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-1000
www.usm.edu

William Carey University
498 Tuscan Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401-5499
(601) 318-5051
https://www.wmcarey.edu/

Student Review: “My experience at William Carey University has been wonderful! I am currently working on my master’s degree in gifted education. This program is 10 courses that can be finished in 5 terms. The school uses trimesters rather than semesters so I’m able to finish faster. The teachers have been fantastic. They are always open to communication and are truly there to help me when I need it. All of my classes are either online or meet on Saturdays. I love the format of the online classes and truly have learned from them. The Saturday classes aren’t as bad as they might sound because we only meet once a month and usually have interactive lessons, not just lectures. After just three terms I already feel much more prepared to be a teacher than I did with just my bachelor’s degree.” Christina B., student at William Carey University

An asterisk (*) denotes a two-year or certificate program in education. While a two-year degree will not qualify graduates for teacher certification, it can be a good starting point for a teaching career. To learn more about what you can do with this degree, see our guide to associate’s degrees in education.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx