Mississippi is known for being a deeply religious state, with far fewer religiously unaffiliated residents: 6% in Mississippi compared to 16% nationwide. Its population is also far more evangelical than most. Nearly half of the population, 47%, identify as evangelical Protestant, compared to 26% nationwide.

Another 11% identify as mainline Protestant compared to 18% nationwide, but the state’s percentage of the population who identify as Historically Black Protestant is more than triple the national average: 23% in Mississippi compared to 7% nationwide, and Mississippi has a greater percentage of residents who identify as Historically Black Protestant than any other state. More than nine in 10 Mississippians are certain God exists compared to 71% nationally, and an additional 7% are fairly certain of His existence.

Education in Mississippi

Like other states in the Deep South, Mississippi has struggled to educate its population and maintain an educated population post-college. Mississippi’s college enrollment from 2005 to 2010 increased 18.4%–a steady amount just below the national average of 20.2%. Mississippi’s six-year college graduation rate of 49.9% is below the national average of 56%. Mississippi is home to a greater percentage of people whose highest educational attainment is an associate degree, some college but no degree, or a high school than the national average.

While 27.2% of the state population holds an associate degree or higher, the state percentage still falls short of the nationwide average. Still, there are many benefits to earning a higher education in Mississippi. The state’s many colleges allocate research funding more equitably than others. While nationally, 57% of funds go to life sciences, only 45.5% of Mississippi colleges’ funds do.

The state’s schools fund other areas, including engineering, environmental sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, “other sciences,” and fields other than science and engineering, more generously than the national average.

The state is home to many well-respected universities, including the University of Mississippi, commonly known as “Ole Miss.” It is also home to several Christian colleges designed to meet the specific needs of the state; Christian colleges in Mississippi, like the state population, are predominantly evangelical and Protestant. Students who prefer a Baptist college may be interested in mid-sized Mississippi College in Clinton or tiny Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel. Mississippi Christian colleges are also Presbyterian, Methodist, and nondenominational, and can meet every student’s academic, extracurricular, and faith-based needs.

Working in Mississippi

Between 2008 and 2018, Mississippi expects to see a 12.8% increase in employment statewide, with many careers seeing growth well beyond the average. The field that is expected to see the biggest growth is health care, at 23.8% growth, followed by careers in health care support. Education and library services will see an increase of 22.8%; community and social service careers will see a 19.7% increase; computer and math will see a 19.6% increase; and business and financial services will see a 17.8% increase.

Under the umbrella of community and social service careers, religious workers including clergy are expected to see a 22.2% increase — good news for Mississippians who seek out a Christian college in order to pursue a career in ministry.

In order to thrive in Mississippi’s future workforce, students may want to pursue degrees in nursing, education, management, computer science, or finance. Like many colleges in Mississippi, Mississippi’s Christian colleges offer these degree programs and more, all through the lens of a Christian worldview. To find the Christian college in Mississippi that is the best fit for you, search our list below.