Career Training Path

Career Training PathMississippi › Meridian Community College

Meridian Community College

Meridian, Mississippi · Public

LPN / LVN programsCDL / truck driving schoolsCNC & machining programsWelding schoolsCosmetology schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsMedical assistant programsCNA classesConstruction trades programsDental hygiene programsAuto mechanic schoolsDental assistant schoolsRadiology & sonography programsElectrician schoolsMedical billing & coding programsSurgical technologist programsEMT & paramedic training
34%completion rate · Mississippi avg 60%
$5,521median debt of graduates
$28,752median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$31,002median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Edu | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Accredited)
Address: 910 Hwy 19 N, Meridian, MS 39307 · Phone: (601) 483-8241 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Meridian Community Co… Meridian Community Co…: 34.4% 34.4% Mississippi average Mississippi average: 59.5% 59.5% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$39,320$50,220$58,030
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers$35,710$51,820$63,630
Machinists$34,570$55,550$63,330
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$36,800$51,100$63,440
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$17,370$27,560$39,810
Chefs and head cooks$30,900$54,850$76,350
Medical assistants$29,210$35,360$38,190
Nursing assistants$27,050$31,520$35,200
Construction laborers$29,370$37,710$45,790
Dental hygienists$58,810$67,280$74,600
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$28,650$37,820$55,000
Dental assistants$30,650$39,160$47,450
Radiologic technologists and technicians$40,740$59,300$66,160
Electricians$38,200$60,860$63,740
Medical records specialists$31,010$41,500$50,500
Surgical technologists$38,800$49,810$59,590
Emergency medical technicians$26,760$36,630$39,100

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Mississippi (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 59 $29,003 $19,957 $6,126
Ground Transportation Certificate, 300–899 hours 58 $33,096 not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 26 $30,266 $29,685 not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 23 $15,465 $15,048 not reported
Carpenters Certificate, 1–2 years 13 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 13 $29,003 $19,957 $6,126
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 2–4 years 13 $30,266 $29,685 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 12 $37,684 $44,384 not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 11 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 10 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 10 $30,266 $29,685 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 10 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 9 $36,157 $31,848 not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 9 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 9 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 8 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 8 $28,220 $28,019 not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 6 $36,157 $31,848 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 6 $37,684 $44,384 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 6 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 4 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 2 $36,157 $31,848 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 2 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

The Path
Nine months to a paycheck that AI can't take.
A free weekly newsletter for people choosing a hands-on career: trades, technical and healthcare.
Subscribe →

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

The Path
Lineworkers earn $95k. Dental hygienists $98k. Barbers $38k.
The federal numbers on every trade, technical and healthcare career, in a free weekly newsletter.
Subscribe →