Colleges and Universities in Jackson, MS

Jackson is home to several colleges and universities that serve both the local community and students from across Mississippi and beyond. From large public universities to small private liberal arts colleges, Jackson offers a range of higher education options.

Public Universities

Jackson State University

Jackson State University (JSU) is a public historically black university located in downtown Jackson. Founded in 1877, JSU has a current enrollment of over 7,000 students. It is the fourth largest university in Mississippi overall, and the second largest HBCU.

JSU offers over 40 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate programs, including several doctoral programs. Popular undergraduate majors include business, health sciences, education, engineering, music, and social sciences. The school is noted for its Honors College and College of Business.

The main JSU campus spreads over 120 acres and contains 35 buildings. Campus highlights include the Student Center, the Charles Deaton Auditorium, and Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. JSU also operates a small satellite campus in Madison County.

Beyond academics, JSU has over 100 student organizations and 17 Division I athletic teams nicknamed the Tigers. The school’s marching band, The Sonic Boom of the South, is particularly noteworthy. JSU has an active Greek system with chapters from all major Black fraternities and sororities.

Notable JSU alumni include Walter Payton, Lindsey Hunter, Rod Paige, and many politicians and civil rights leaders. The university has an annual economic impact of over $388 million on the metro Jackson area.

University of Mississippi Medical Center

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) is Mississippi’s only academic health science center. Located in downtown Jackson, it houses the state’s only medical and dental schools.

UMMC was founded in 1955 and currently enrolls over 3,000 students. It offers degrees in medicine, dentistry, nursing, health-related professions, graduate studies, and post-graduate training. The 660,000 square foot Medical Center complex includes Jackson’s only Level 1 trauma center.

UMMC trains over 70% of Mississippi’s physicians and dentists. It provides specialty medical care not available elsewhere in the state, serving around 700,000 patients each year. The Medical Center is Mississippi’s largest employer with over 10,000 faculty and staff.

Notable facilities include the Children’s Hospital, the Grants Ferry surgical center, the Lakeland Family Medical Center, and the state’s only organ transplant program. Ongoing research initiatives focus on diabetes, hypertension, childhood diseases, and Women’s health.

Millsaps College

Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1890, Millsaps has a current enrollment of over 1,000 students. It is located northwest of downtown Jackson on a 100-acre campus.

Millsaps grants Bachelor’s degrees in over 45 majors across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and business.

Popular majors include biology, business, communications, and psychology. The college has an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and average class size of 16 students.

Millsaps owns the 15,000 specimen Millsaps-Wilson Botanical Gardens and operates a Study Abroad program with locations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Facilities on the red-brick campus include the Olin Hall of Science, the Hall Activities Center, and the Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex.

Over 85 student groups are active on campus, along with Greek life and 15 DIII athletic teams. Notable alumni include sportscaster Jim Hill and multiple politicians, authors, and academics. Millsaps has been recognized for value and affordability among private colleges.

Private Liberal Arts Colleges

Belhaven University

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University is Mississippi’s largest private university with a current enrollment of over 4,500 students.

Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, it maintains a campus in north Jackson along with additional locations in Memphis, Houston, Orlando, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.

Belhaven grants Bachelor’s degrees in over 60 majors plus graduate degrees in business, education, nursing, and more.

Traditional undergraduate fields of study include arts, humanities, sciences, Christian ministry, music, and healthcare. Adult and online programs focus on business administration and leadership.

The Jackson residential campus covers over 100 acres just west of I-55. Highlights include the glass Fitzhugh Hall, the modern Smith Hall, and the Performance Center.

Belhaven competes in NCAA Division III athletics and performing arts. Notable alumni include bestselling author Ace Atkins.

Tougaloo College

Tougaloo College is a small, private HBCU founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, it maintains a Georgian-style campus on 500 acres north of Jackson.

Tougaloo enrolls around 850 students in over 40 fields leading to Bachelor’s degrees. It maintains a 13:1 student-faculty ratio.

Popular majors include the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and education. The school is noted for grooming future leaders in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s.

Campus landmarks include the Robert O. Wilder Building, the George A. and Ruth B. Owens Health, Wellness, and Human Resources Center, and the newly renovated Woodworth Chapel. The Historic District contains buildings from the late 1800s.

Beyond academics, Tougaloo promotes student development through internships, community service initiatives, and leadership opportunities. Notable alumni include civil rights icons Medgar Evers and Fannie Lou Hamer, and acclaimed author Alex Haley.

Community Colleges

Hinds Community College

Hinds Community College (HCC) is a large multi-campus system serving central Mississippi. Founded in 1917, it enrolls over 10,000 students across six locations in the metro Jackson area.

HCC grants Associate’s degrees and certificates in over 80 programs. Academics are organized into six divisions: academic, career-technical, nursing, workforce development, adult education, and high school programs. The college provides workforce training, technical skills, and academic transfer programs.

The main HCC campus is located in Raymond, Mississippi. Other campuses are located in Jackson, Byram, Utica, and Vicksburg.

The college maintains additional centers for nursing, workforce training, and high school dual enrollment throughout its service area.

Beyond academics, HCC has active athletic teams, student organizations, performing arts, and community education programs.

Students can earn Associate’s degrees fully online through eLearning programs. Graduates transfer to four-year schools or enter the local workforce.

Jackson Academy

Jackson Academy is a PK3-12th grade private school located in east Jackson. Founded in 1966, it enrolls 1,000 students on a 25 acre campus. Jackson Academy is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

Jackson Academy is considered one of the top private schools in central Mississippi. The curriculum focuses on college preparation through Advanced Placement courses, electives, and extracurricular activities. Average class size is 18 students.

Campus facilities include a fine arts auditorium, library, baseball complex, football stadium, and indoor athletic center. Students can participate in 20 different sports along with dozens of clubs and performing arts programs.

Tuition rates currently range from $8,700 for junior kindergarten to $13,750 for grades 9-12. Admissions are selective, and most graduates matriculate to four-year colleges and universities.

Specialized Institutions

Jackson Theological Seminary

Jackson Theological Seminary is a private Christian seminary located north of the city center. Founded in 1974, it is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The seminary has around 90 students enrolled in Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral programs related to Christian Ministry and biblical studies.

Campus facilities include a chapel, library, dormitories, and classrooms. Students can earn fully accredited degrees on-campus or through distance learning programs.

Mississippi College School of Law

The Mississippi College School of Law operates as an independent law school affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention. Located downtown near the State Capitol, the law school enrolls 300 full-time students.

It offers a Juris Doctor degree along with Masters programs in advocacy and health law. Students have access to externships, clinics, student journals, and moot court. MC Law graduates consistently have the highest Mississippi bar exam pass rate in the state.

United States Army Medical Department Center & School

This specialized Army medical training facility is located at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. It maintains a satellite campus in Jackson, MS focused solely on training Army public health professionals.

The Academy of Health Sciences branch campus occupies a historic building in the heart of Jackson. Here, students take courses in leadership, epidemiology, environmental science, health administration, and preventive medicine.

Mississippi E-Center

The Mississippi E-Center@Jackson State provides customized workforce training for area businesses, industries, and governments.

Located on the JSU campus, the E-Center contains multiple classrooms, computer labs, and a 200-seat auditorium.

Services focus on leadership, project management, software applications, IT, healthcare, manufacturing skills, and safety protocols relevant to the region’s employers.