Mississippi State vs. Lee University

Should I go to Mississippi State University or Lee University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mississippi State or Lee University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Mississippi State University vs. Lee University comparison
Mississippi State University Lee University College 3 College 4
Mississippi State University Lee University
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Overview

Mississippi State Lee University
Location Mississippi State, MS Cleveland, TN
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 22,649 3,927
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #523 #787
Religious Affiliation - Church of God - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msstate.edu leeuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mississippi State Lee University
Tuition (In State) $9,248 $21,000
Tuition (Out of State) $25,294 $21,000
Room & Board $10,964 $8,840
Avg Net Price $15,364 $19,726
Avg Grant Aid $14,252 $14,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Mississippi State Lee University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,830 2,014
Admitted 14,158 1,462
Acceptance Rate 75.2% 72.6%
Enrolled % 23.8% 35.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.73
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 19/27
SAT Range 1070/1280 1010/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Mississippi State Lee University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Mississippi State Lee University
Graduation Rate 60% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $279

Diversity

Mississippi State Lee University
% Men 49% 39%
% Women 51% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 79%
% Black 20% 6%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Mississippi State Lee University
% In-State 59% 48%
% Out-of-State 40% 50%

Campus

Mississippi State Lee University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Lee University based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 3,927 students)

Mississippi State vs. Lee University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or Lee University?

  • Lee University is 127.1% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($21,000.00 vs. $9,248.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at Mississippi State than Lee University ($25,294.00 vs. $21,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Lee University ($15,364 vs. $19,726)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lee University are 24% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($8,840 vs. $10,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than Lee University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 1.5% larger than aid received Lee University ($14,252 vs. $14,042)

Mississippi State vs. Lee University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi State or Lee University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lee University or Mississippi State .

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 52 points higher than at Lee University (1088)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Lee University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Lee University students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Lee University (72.6%)

Mississippi State vs. Lee University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mississippi State or Lee University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lee University and Mississippi State.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Lee University (60% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $10,400 more per year than Lee University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $37,100)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Lee University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Lee University graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lee University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/