Finance Programs and Careers in Mississippi

This guide will provide information for those interested in postsecondary finance programs in Mississippi. Several colleges and universities in the state offer finance programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Programs are tailored to differing student needs, such as full-time study or evening and online options for working professionals. Below you will find information on a variety of in-person and online programs as well as data on employment and salaries for finance professionals in Mississippi.

Quick Facts

• There are 11 colleges and universities with finance degree programs in Mississippi.¹
• 1 school offers a certificate in finance.¹
• No schools offer an associate’s degree in finance.¹
• 10 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in finance.¹
• 4 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in finance.¹
• No schools ranked in Forbes’ Best Business Schools 2019.²
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Business and Finance Majors 2020.³
• No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Finance Programs 2021.⁴
• No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Finance Programs 2021.⁵

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

Table of Contents

• Comparison of Finance Programs
• Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in Mississippi
• Select Schools in Mississippi with Finance Degrees
• Mississippi Finance Careers and Salary Outlook
• Finance Associations in Mississippi

Mississippi Finance Program Comparison

We have developed the following table to help you compare all of the finance programs in Mississippi from not-for-profit schools that offer programs with a concentration in finance. In addition to allowing you to compare the business school’s accreditation, finance degrees that appear in bold are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Programs, those that have been recognized for curricula aligned to preparing for the CFA Exam.

• — indicates none.
• N.Av. indicates no data available.

Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in Mississippi

Georgetown CEW’s ROI Ranking by Long-Term Net Present Value 2019

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) has compared 4,500 colleges and universities on graduates’ return on investment (ROI). We use their net present value (NPV) ranking, which is the current dollar value of earning a four-year degree from the school over a 40-year horizon.

• Millsaps College (#648; $977,00)
• University of Mississippi (#979; $904,000)
• Mississippi State University (#1,411; $834,000)
• Mississippi College (#1,706; $793,000)
• Belhaven University (#1,910; $765,000)
• University of Southern Mississippi (#1,910; $765,000)
• Delta State University (#2,402; $705,000)
• William Carey University (#2,402; $705,000)
• Alcorn State University (#3,036; $627,000)
• Jackson State University (#3,175; $609,000)⁷

Select Schools in Mississippi with Finance Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Jackson State University

Jackson State University’s (JSU) College of Business offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance that will introduce students to the challenges and opportunities of beginning new ventures and managing existing businesses. The BBA in Finance is a full-time, four-year program that requires 121 credit hours to fully complete. Of the 121 hours, 42 credits are in business core courses, and a minimum of 24 credits must be in Finance major courses. Finance courses include Financial Management, Commercial Banking, International Finance, and Portfolio Management. BBA students must attain a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a GPA of at least 2.0 in all business courses to graduate. Undergraduate admission to JSU requires the completion of a high school College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a satisfactory score on the ACT and sufficient class rank. For non-finance students interested in finance study, JSU offers a minor in Finance.

University of Mississippi

The College of Business at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) hosts a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a major in Finance that teaches students how to critically think about the current market by combining a range of business skills through real-world case studies. BBA students must complete 120 credit hours to complete the four-year program. All BBA students enroll as General Business majors and may declare a major in Finance after completing the first year of the general education curriculum and select business classes with a minimum 2.25 GPA. The Finance major requires 24 credit hours of major courses, including Investments, Intermediate Financial Management, and Financial Statement Analysis. Admission to Ole Miss requires completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a satisfactory GPA and satisfactory scores on the ACT or SAT. Ole Miss also offers BBA programs in Banking and Finance; Real Estate; and Risk Management and Insurance.

Traditional Master’s Programs

Millsaps College

At Millsaps College’s Else School of Management, students can earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in Finance with all classes held in the evenings to accommodate working professionals. The program requires between 30 and 48 hours to complete depending on previous coursework and can be completed in as little as 12 months for full-time students. Part-time enrollment is also available, leading to degree completion in as little as 24 months. Students without prior business coursework must take foundation coursework before continuing in the program. The rest of the coursework is split between 18 credits of core courses and 12 credits of elective coursework. The Finance concentration requires three elective courses, such as Financial Management, Special Topics in Finance, or Student Managed Funds, in which students manage Millsaps General Louis Wilson Fund. Admission to the MBA program requires an undergraduate degree and a GMAT score. Two years of work experience is preferred but not required.

Mississippi College

Mississippi College (MC) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Finance concentration that is offered part-time in the evening to accommodate working professionals. MBA in Finance students will develop principal finance skills, including corporate finance, investments, and international finance. Of the required 30 credit hours, courses are split between six core business courses and four finance courses. Courses specific to the Finance concentration include Financial Statement Analysis, Advanced Investments, and Advanced Financial Management. Admission to the MBA in Finance requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.25 GPA. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 will need either three to five years of professional experience or a GMAT score. Students without an undergraduate business degree may need to complete up to four additional prerequisite courses.

Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) hosts a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance that can be completed in as little as one year of full-time study. MVSU’s MBA program will provide students the opportunity to develop the managerial skills necessary to lead an organization effectively. In the 30-credit hour curriculum, students take 18 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives towards the Finance concentration. MBA in Finance students will study subjects such as corporate finance, investments, derivatives, and business ethics, and have the opportunity to pursue an independent research project. Students without prior business coursework may need to complete foundational classes. To graduate from the MBA in Finance, students must have completed all courses with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants to the program will need a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Alcorn State University

The School of Business at Alcorn State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Finance that can be completed partially online. The Finance curriculum will provide students with a foundation in the business areas required for entry-level positions in business, government, or industry. The four-year program requires 120 credit hours to complete with freshman and sophomore classes consisting chiefly of the university curriculum before entering upper-division study in the business program. Finance classes include Real Estate Finance; Investments; Insurance and Risk Management; and Special Topics in Finance. To graduate from the BSBA program, students must complete all required classes and earn a “C” or better in all business courses. Admission to Alcorn requires completion of a College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a GPA of 3.2 or higher, or a satisfactory combination of GPA, class rank, and ACT score.

Belhaven University

Belhaven University offers an Online Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a Finance concentration that requires 42 credit hours to complete. Through the MPA program, students should develop their understanding of internal and external forces that affect an organization’s decision-making process. Each course is seven weeks long with the full program usually completed in 18 to 24 months. The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours of coursework towards the MPA program and an additional six hours of courses taken toward the Finance concentration. MPA students will take courses such as Public Policy Analysis and Human Resources Development and finance courses such as Investments and Contemporary Issues in Finance. The MPA is open to bachelor’s degree holders in all majors. Applicants to the program must have a GPA of at least 2.5 or nine hours of graduate study with at least a “B” in each course. Students seeking a more business-oriented education may be interested in Belhaven’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance program, also available online.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU) offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a major in Business Administration and concentration in Finance that will help students gain knowledge of various aspects of business. The 123-credit hour program is offered part-time to accommodate full-time employment. Online coursework parallels the on-campus program, with the curriculum broken up between 36 hours of general education courses, 71 credits of business courses, and 16 credits of electives. The curriculum features finance courses such as Financial Systems, Working Capital Management, Consumer Finance, and Advanced Bank Management. Applicants entering as freshmen will need a high school diploma or equivalent that includes a College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Applicants with insufficient GPAs may be considered with a sufficient score on the ACT or SAT and sufficient class rank. For those interested in related studies other than Finance, the BBA major also offers concentrations in Real Estate or Risk Management and Insurance.

Mississippi Finance Careers and Salary Outlook

Mississippi offers a variety of opportunities for recent finance graduates to find employment. The state’s economy relies on manufacturing and agriculture, with major employers like Nissan based in Canton, Tyson Foods in Forest, and Howard Industries in Ellisville. Other employers with headquarters in the state include the utility company Mississippi Power and the financial holding company BancorpSouth. Mississippi is also home to several local and statewide banks, including Hancock Whitney Bank and Trustmark Bank. Financial services companies and small businesses can be found concentrated in the major cities of Jackson, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg.

Among financial professionals in Mississippi, the state’s 4,030 financial managers have the highest average salary, at $95,800 annually.⁸ This is below the national average salary of $147,530 for this occupation.^8,9 Northeast Mississippi has the fifth-highest employment level of financial managers among nonmetropolitan areas in the US.⁹ Loan officers have the second-highest employment of financial positions in Mississippi, at 2,650, though an average yearly salary ($65,350) below the nation’s average of $76,200.^8,10 Projections Central reports that Mississippi’s financial professions are expected to grow at a much slower rate than the national average through 2028.¹¹ Financial examiner roles are expected to grow by 7.1% nationally through 2028, while in Mississippi, they are expected to remain static.¹¹ The highest rate of growth among financial roles is reported to be for financial managers at 2.9%, significantly slower than the reported national rate of growth, 16%.¹¹

Mississippi Finance Job Information

Finance Associations in Mississippi

• Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA): Representing banks and savings institutions in the state, the MBA organizes education opportunities, conferences and advocacy for banking interests in regulation and legislation.
• Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA): The largest organization of CPAs in Mississippi, the MSCPA organizes educational opportunities, networking events, and policy advocacy initiatives.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
2. Forbes Best Business Schools 2019: https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Undergraduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-finance
5. US News & World Report Best Graduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/finance-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Business Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Mississippi: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ms.htm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Managers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Loan Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132072.htm
11. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm