As Mississippi prepares to support the statewide postsecondary attainment goal, understanding the returns to higher education is crucial to determining where to invest resources. Ithaka S+R has partnered with the Woodward Hines Education Foundation to provide Mississippi policymakers, advocates, and legislators with information they need to make strategic investments in postsecondary education that can increase attainment of high-value postsecondary credentials, especially amongst lower-income Mississippians, people of color, and residents in rural communities, ultimately strengthening the labor market by supplying an educated, trained workforce to meet current and future demands. To understand how postsecondary investments can best serve the needs of individuals and the state, this analysis seeks to answer three central questions: (1) what are the individual returns to higher education in the state; (2) what are the statewide economic returns to higher education; and (3) how can we plan for future investments in high-opportunity credentials? Based on the analysis, the report concludes with three key recommendations: (1) invest to provide earnings and employment opportunities to Mississippians; (2) invest in programs that meet social and labor needs; and (3) invest to close equity gaps in attainment and earnings.