Head-to-head · 2026
Pearl River Community College vs Southwest Mississippi Community College
Compare average net price ($6,532 at Pearl River Community College; $2,525 at Southwest Mississippi Community College), ROI score (12.64 vs 32.90), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($33,019 vs $33,227), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Pearl River Community College; Open / not reported at Southwest Mississippi Community College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Pearl River Community College | Southwest Mississippi Community College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 12.64 | 32.90 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $6,532 | $2,525 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $26,128 | $10,100 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $3,700 | $4,080 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,100 | $6,780 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $33,019 | $33,227 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 37.5% | 55.9% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 64.7% | 69.2% ✓ |
| Median debt | $9,750 | — |
| Enrollment | 4,903 | 1,474 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Pearl River Community College | Southwest Mississippi Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $5,647 | $2,171 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $5,978 | $2,136 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $5,363 | $4,511 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $6,217 | $4,410 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $8,460 | — |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Pearl River Community College | Southwest Mississippi Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 47.2% | 40.6% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 6.6% | 15.4% |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 6.7% | 9% |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 2.2% | 7.3% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 2% | 6.4% |
| Precision Metal Working | 2.9% | 2.6% |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 2.3% | 2.8% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 0.7% | 3.2% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Southwest Mississippi Community College reports the lower average net price by $4,007 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $16,028 difference over four years ($10,100 vs $26,128).
Southwest Mississippi Community College reports $208 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($33,227 vs $33,019). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 64.7% at Pearl River Community College and 69.2% at Southwest Mississippi Community College. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Pearl River Community College vs Southwest Mississippi Community College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Southwest Mississippi Community College is cheaper — average net price $2,525 per year vs $6,532 at Pearl River Community College. The annual difference of $4,007 adds up to about $16,028 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Southwest Mississippi Community College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $33,227 vs $33,019 at Pearl River Community College. The gap in the federal data is $208. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.