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Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Town · 18,397 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$17,595
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
65%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$51,513
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
78%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

As Mississippi’s premier land-grant institution, Mississippi State University is an R1 research powerhouse renowned for its top-tier Bagley College of Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine, and acclaimed programs in agriculture, forestry, and architecture. The university distinguishes itself nationally through pioneering research hubs like the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, which leads advanced developments in uncrewed aerospace systems and autonomous flight. Campus culture is vibrant, welcoming, and deeply rooted in Southeastern Conference (SEC) athletic spirit, famously defined by the passionate ringing of traditional cowbells that reverberates across Davis Wade Stadium on game days.

Wikipedia:Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production".

Location
Mississippi State, MS, 39762 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
MEM · Memphis
129 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$10,202$27,637
Housing & food (on campus)$12,902$12,902
Books & supplies$1,200$1,200
Cost of attendance$29,267$46,702 est.
Average net price$17,595Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$27,637
In-state: $10,202
Housing & food (on campus)$12,902
Books & supplies$1,200
Cost of attendance$46,702 est.
In-state: $29,267
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $17,595
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$14,332
$30–48k
$14,372
$48–75k
$18,671
$75–110k
$20,704
$110k+
$22,987
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$6,065
First-years who got one535
Source: Mississippi State University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
65%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
46%
Back for yr 2
83%
Transferred
0%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
63% graduated · 28% transferred · 9% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$43,487
10 yrs after entry$51,513
Debt
Median at graduation$22,142
Monthly payment$235
Middle 50% owe$6.1k–$27k
90th percentile$38,000
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
78%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1219
R 560–670 · M 540–680
ACT midpoint
26
Comp 21–29 · E 21–30 · M 19–27
SAT middle 50%: 1100–1350
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Mississippi State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 49%Women 51%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
29%
First-gen
25%
Family income
$38,988
Independent
13%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
21.0
Part-time
8%
Race & ethnicity
White
73%
Hispanic
5%
Black
16%
Asian
2%
Two or more
3%
Non-resident
1%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$43,487
After 10 yrs
$51,513
Business Administration, Management and Operations379
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods279
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness268
Psychology, General258
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other227
Marketing205
Mechanical Engineering193
Communication and Media Studies143
Biology, General143
Civil Engineering120
Accounting and Related Services110
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology106
Finance and Financial Management Services106
Computer and Information Sciences, General99
Animal Sciences95
Chemical Engineering89
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$895M
Full-time faculty
83%
Faculty salary
$10,100/mo
Teaching spend
$8,632
per student
Federal loans
39%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$342M research spending · 168 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

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