Higher Education

Hancock County and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have one of the highest saturations of higher education opportunities in the state and region. These schools also serve to foster entrepreneurs through research and development that helps our companies grow locally.

Pearl River Community College: PRCC offers classes for a variety of tech and manufacturing careers. And it collaborates with the Hancock County School System in the strategic 2 + 2 program, which provides qualifying students two years of free tuition.

Gulf Coast Community College: Four campuses and four centers provide a range of educational services for adult and traditional students.

University of Southern Mississippi: This comprehensive doctoral and research-driven institution has over 90 degree-granting programs and a nationally renowned polymer science and engineer program.

Tulane University: This private research university in New Orleans has a satellite campus in Biloxi offering a continuing studies program.

University of New Orleans: The Pontchartrain campus is one of four campuses in the New Orleans metropolitan area, which include the UNO Research and Technology Park.

Mississippi State University: Recognized as an RU/VH: Research University for “very high research activity,” MSU has been awarded a Community Engagement Classification.

William Carey University: A private liberal arts college with campuses in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, WCU offers a range of both undergraduate and graduate programs.

University of Mississippi: With campuses in Oxford and Jackson, “Ole Miss” is the state’s oldest university and largest by enrollment. The University of Mississippi is a Carnegie "high research university”, has earned sea-grant designation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and is classified by NASA as space-grant institution.