Hattiesburg, Mississippi has a population of about 48,507. The city’s median household income is $44,140 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Hattiesburg, with tuition ranging from $3,650 to $14,975 per year. In the Hattiesburg, MS metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $103,220 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Hattiesburg city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | 1.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | 1.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Jones County Junior College | Ellisville, MS | 21.0 mi | $4,000 - $14,975 | – |
| Pearl River Community College | Poplarville, MS | 34.7 mi | $3,650 - $11,607 | – |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston, MS | 37.8 mi | $3,950 - $12,908 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi business administration page.
Hattiesburg is part of the Hattiesburg, MS metro area (BLS area code 25620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Mississippi statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $83,000 | Hattiesburg, MS | $94,749 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $87,280 | Hattiesburg, MS | $99,635 |
| Financial Manager | $103,220 | Hattiesburg, MS | $117,831 |
| Human Resources Manager | $78,160 | Hattiesburg, MS | $89,224 |
| Management Analyst | $66,930 | Hattiesburg, MS | $76,404 |
| Project Management Specialist | $78,000 | Hattiesburg, MS | $89,041 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $62,270 | Hattiesburg, MS | $71,084 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $44,730 | Hattiesburg, MS | $51,062 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $52,050 | Hattiesburg, MS | $59,418 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,507 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $44,140 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 35.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 87.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Forrest County | 1,067 workers, 66 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Hattiesburg. The closest is William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (37.8 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Hattiesburg are: Financial Manager ($103,220), Administrative Services Manager ($87,280), General and Operations Manager ($83,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Mississippi statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Laurel, MS is 28.7 miles from Hattiesburg and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Hattiesburg’s median household income of $44,140 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hattiesburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Business Administration Programs in Mississippi (2026)