For 2017-2018, Mississippi State in-state cost of attendance for living on or off campus is $24,370 per year, although $5,238 is personal and transportation costs (so $19,132 would be costs for tuition, room, board, and books). Subtracting the $6,500 scholarship for stats leaves $17,870 per year ($12,632 for tuition, room, board, and books). So these are the benchmark costs to beat with alternative schools.
http://www.sfa.msstate.edu/cost/
http://www.admissions.msstate.edu/freshmen/money-matters/scholarships/academic-scholarships/