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Best Online Education Programs in Columbus, MS (2026)
Columbus, Mississippi is home to about 23,616 residents. Median household income is $40,588 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, Postsecondary at a median $86,590 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Education Schools to Columbus
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer education programs near Columbus, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbus city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No Columbus-area programs are currently indexed in our directory.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi education page.
Education Wages Near Columbus
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $50,980 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $49,790 |
| Middle School Teacher | $50,790 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $61,860 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $82,800 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $86,590 |
| Tutor | $49,610 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $58,710 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Columbus at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,616 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $40,588 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Education-related employment in Lowndes County | 156 workers, 14 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Columbus-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Starkville, MS – 24.2 mi away (32,441 pop)
- Northport, AL – 50.1 mi away (25,045 pop)
- Tupelo, MS – 55.2 mi away (46,095 pop)
- Meridian, MS – 79.3 mi away (39,478 pop)
- Bessemer, AL – 83.7 mi away (26,511 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying education roles in Mississippi?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying education-related roles in Mississippi are: Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($86,590), Education Administrator, K-12 ($82,800), Education Teacher, Postsecondary ($61,860). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Starkville instead of Columbus?
Starkville, MS is 24.2 miles from Columbus and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Columbus an affordable place to study education?
Columbus’s median household income of $40,588 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
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.
Learn More About Education Programs
- Education accreditation: what to look for
- Education concentrations and specializations
- Is a Education degree worth it?
- Main Education degree guide
- Online Education programs in Mississippi
- Education programs by state
Other Programs Available in Columbus
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbus:
- Criminal Justice programs in Columbus, MS
- Nursing programs in Columbus, MS
- Business Administration programs in Columbus, MS
- Computer Science programs in Columbus, MS
- Psychology programs in Columbus, MS
- Engineering programs in Columbus, MS
- Technology programs in Columbus, MS
- Liberal Arts programs in Columbus, MS
- Healthcare programs in Columbus, MS
- Cybersecurity programs in Columbus, MS
- Accounting programs in Columbus, MS
- Healthcare Administration programs in Columbus, MS
- Social Work programs in Columbus, MS
- Counseling programs in Columbus, MS
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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