Lowest In-State Tuition for a Bachelor’s
$9,772 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 3 bachelor’s programs shown here.
Mississippi · Anthropology Rankings · 2027 
Best Anthropology Programs in Mississippi for 2027
The University of Mississippi ranks first for the bachelor’s, and Mississippi State University produced 20 of the state’s 35 anthropology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24.
By Taylor Rupe, Editor
Anthropology Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Mississippi
3 schools in Mississippi awarded anthropology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 405 bachelor’s programs nationwide.
- 1
University of Mississippi
Anthropology (BA)
51.8 Comparison ScoreOle Miss keeps the anthropology major to 30 hours: cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology and anthropological theory, plus six hours of methods and twelve more of anthropology electives. The methods list is where the program gets specific. You can build it from an archaeological field session, a field study of the culture of the Andes, digital archaeology, ceramic analysis, ethnography, or the two Bone Detectives courses on human osteology and biological profiles. Bioarchaeology and field sessions are also offered abroad.
- Core Courses
- Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology and Anthropological Theory
- Methods Menu
- Six hours from field sessions, digital archaeology, ceramic analysis, ethnography, osteology and more
- Study Abroad Options
- Bioarchaeology Abroad, Archaeological Field Session Abroad and a field study of the culture of the Andes
Program Sources: Anthropology (BA) | University of Mississippi Academic CatalogAnthropology (BA) | University of Mississippi Academic Catalog
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 7 Anthropology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 72% 3,393 first-time, full-time students
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $9,772 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $28,600 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 2
Mississippi State University
Anthropology B.A.
50.3 Comparison ScoreThe Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures sets a 36-hour major with a core of cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology and anthropological theory. Upper-division work then has to touch all three subfields, and you pick either artifact analysis or ethnographic methods to meet the computer literacy requirement. Statistics is also required. Archaeology is the strongest pull: field schools are offered in the summer and have covered sites in Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina, plus Israel, Croatia and St. Croix. Twenty degrees were awarded in 2023–24, a sizable cohort for the state page.
- Subfield Breadth
- One upper-division course in each of archaeology, biological and cultural anthropology
- Field Schools
- Survey, excavation and bioarchaeology programs in the Southeast, Israel, Croatia and St. Croix
- Quantitative Requirement
- Statistics plus artifact analysis or ethnographic methods
Program Sources: B.A. Degree Requirements | Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern CulturesField Schools | Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 20 Anthropology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 67% 3,546 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $26,836 Anthropology bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $10,202 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $27,637 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 3
University of Southern Mississippi
Anthropology
45.0 Comparison ScoreSouthern Miss runs anthropology as a small program with four research labs and two summer field schools, so lab and field time shows up early in the major. The archaeology lab houses collections from across Mississippi, the bioarchaeology lab reads diet, disease and trauma in skeletal remains, including the effects of Spanish colonialism on the Maya, and the Ethnography and Qualitative Analysis Lab lends out equipment for interviews and data work. Majors learn archaeology, cultural anthropology and biological anthropology. The archaeology field school runs every odd summer and teaches excavation, recording and survey, and a separate ethnographic field school covers applied cultural work. Internships can earn course credit, including placements at Camp Shelby and law enforcement agencies.
- Research Labs
- Archaeology, bioarchaeology, ethnography and qualitative analysis, and human evolution and reproduction
- Summer Field Schools
- Archaeology field school in odd summers and an ethnographic field school
- Internships
- Course credit for self-arranged or department-found internships
Program Sources: Anthropology | Undergraduate Programs | The University of Southern MississippiAnthropology | Undergraduate Programs | The University of Southern Mississippi
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 8 Anthropology, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 49% 2,022 first-time, full-time students
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $9,998 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $11,998 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Anthropology Programs in Mississippi at a Glance
- Ranked Schools
- 3 3 public, 0 private
- Bachelor’s Programs
- 3 35 degrees in 2023–24
- Lowest In-State Tuition
- $9,772 Bachelor’s list, schoolwide, 2024–25
How We Rank Anthropology Programs in Mississippi
Each program gets the same comparison score it earns in our national anthropology model, calculated against the nationwide group that meets the numeric and directory criteria. We then order Mississippi’s eligible programs by that score within each degree level. This page features up to 10 programs, taking the next highest-ranked program from each degree-level list in turn. Scores are compared only within the same degree level. Bachelor’s lists weigh graduation rate (20%), published tuition (20%), graduate earnings (20%), program reputation (25%), and degrees awarded (15%). How these scores work.
Best Anthropology Schools in Mississippi by Goal
These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.
Most Anthropology Bachelor’s Graduates
20 anthropology bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.
Highest Schoolwide Graduation Rate
72% of first-time, full-time students at the school finished a bachelor’s within six years. This is a schoolwide rate, not a anthropology-only rate.
Anthropology in Mississippi: Similar Resident Tuition, Different Sizes
For state residents, price barely separates the three schools. Schoolwide tuition and required fees for 2024–25 run from $9,772 at the University of Mississippi to $10,202 at Mississippi State University. Nonresidents see a wider gap: $11,998 at the University of Southern Mississippi against $27,637 and $28,600 at the other two. Program size varies more. Mississippi State awarded 20 anthropology bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, compared with 8 at the University of Southern Mississippi and 7 at the University of Mississippi. The University of Mississippi has the highest schoolwide graduation rate at 72%, a figure that covers all first-time, full-time students rather than anthropology majors.
Anthropology Programs in Mississippi: Common Questions
How Many Schools in Mississippi Appear in These Anthropology Rankings?
3 schools in Mississippi appear in the lists shown here (3 bachelor’s programs). A school can appear at more than one degree level. The degree counts come from federal IPEDS completions for 2023–24.
Which Anthropology Bachelor’s Program in Mississippi Has the Lowest Tuition?
University of Mississippi lists $9,772 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents in 2024–25, the lowest among the bachelor’s programs shown here. That is a schoolwide figure before aid, so check the program’s own costs and any fees for fieldwork or labs.
Which Mississippi Anthropology Program Costs Least for Out-of-State Students?
The University of Southern Mississippi lists $11,998 in schoolwide tuition and required fees for nonresidents in 2024–25. Mississippi State University lists $27,637 and the University of Mississippi $28,600. Residents pay between $9,772 and $10,202 at all three, so the difference matters mostly for students coming from another state.
Which Ranked Anthropology Bachelor’s Program Has the Lowest Resident Tuition in Mississippi?
University of Mississippi in University has the lowest resident tuition and required fees among the ranked anthropology bachelor’s programs: $9,772 for 2024–25. The nonresident figure is $28,600. Those are schoolwide undergraduate charges. Compare your aid offer and housing costs before deciding which school fits your budget.
Sources for This Page
- IPEDS C2024_A completions: first-major degrees awarded by field and level, 2023–24.
- IPEDS COST1_2024: tuition and required fees, 2024–25.
- IPEDS DRVGR2024: schoolwide graduation rates.
- Carnegie 2025 Research Activity Designations.
- SocialSciences.org ranking methodology.