Best colleges for Sports in Mississippi
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Christian University and Mississippi State University are the top bachelor's Sports programs in Mississippi by graduate earnings. University of Southern Mississippi leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,049, College Scorecard. Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and University of Mississippi award the most Sports degrees in Mississippi: 271, 252 and 177 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Mississippi colleges offer Sports and award 1,061 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,049 | 252 | 49% | — | $23,770 |
| 2 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,193 | 68 | 59% | $21,096 | $24,625 |
| 3 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,654 | 271 | 67% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Belhaven University Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,503 | 62 | 49% | $22,476 | $26,750 |
| 5 | University of Mississippi University Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,239 | 177 | 72% | — | $23,034 |
| 6 | William Carey University Hattiesburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,182 | 13 | 60% | $17,205 | $22,916 |
Colleges awarding the most Sports degrees in Mississippi
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public | 271 | $29,654 |
| 2 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public | 252 | $39,049 |
| 3 | University of Mississippi University Public | 177 | $22,239 |
| 4 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit | 68 | $30,193 |
| 5 | Belhaven University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 62 | $25,503 |
| 6 | Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 7 | Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 8 | Holmes Community College Goodman Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | Jackson State University Jackson Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus Public | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Mississippi colleges offering Sports
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena | Public | 37 |
| Alcorn State University | Alcorn State | Public | 17 |
| East Mississippi Community College | Scooba | Public | 15 |
| William Carey University | Hattiesburg | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | Moorhead | Public | 7 |
| Coahoma Community College | Clarksdale | Public | 6 |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Exercise Physiologists (SOC 29-1128).
Top skills
What Exercise Physiologists earn in Mississippi
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Sports programs in Mississippi.
Which Mississippi colleges award the most Sports degrees?+
Mississippi State University (271 graduates a year), University of Southern Mississippi (252 graduates a year) and University of Mississippi (177 graduates a year) award the most Sports degrees in Mississippi, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Mississippi colleges offer Sports.
What is the best college for Sports in Mississippi?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern Mississippi leads among bachelor's Sports programs in Mississippi, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,049, College Scorecard. Mississippi Christian University and Mississippi State University follow. By degrees awarded, Mississippi State University is the largest, with 271 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Sports program in Mississippi has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern Mississippi tops the list at $39,049. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Exercise Physiologists earn in Mississippi?+
The average annual wage for Exercise Physiologists in Mississippi is $51,100 (median $43,060), across about 30 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Sports program?+
The Sports program, officially titled Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, focuses on the study of physical activity, fitness, and recreation. This program is designed for individuals interested in promoting health and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Exercise Physiologists?+
The national job outlook is about +9.5% growth with around 1,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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