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Mississippi State , MS
Mississippi State University, located in Starkville, Mississippi, is a comprehensive, research-driven institution that offers a wide range of academic programs to more than 22,000 students. Established in 1878 as a land-grant institution, Mississippi State aims to provide quality education while engaging in impactful research and community service. The university offers over 175 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across its eight colleges, including Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences.
Known for its strong commitment to research, Mississippi State University houses several research centers and institutes that focus on diverse areas such as agriculture, engineering, energy, and cybersecurity. The Bagley College of Engineering is particularly renowned for its innovative research in advanced materials, aerospace engineering, and autonomous systems. Moreover, Mississippi State's affiliation with the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center allows students and faculty to engage in research projects of national importance.
Beyond academics, Mississippi State University offers a vibrant campus life through a variety of student organizations, clubs, and activities. Athletics also play a central role in the university's culture, with its mascot, the Bulldogs, competing in the Southeastern Conference. The Davis Wade Stadium is home to one of the largest on-campus football facilities in the NCAA, further enhancing the sense of community and school spirit. Overall, Mississippi State University provides a dynamic and well-rounded educational experience, empowering students to excel academically while encouraging them to engage in research and foster lifelong connections.
Located in Mississippi State, MS, Mississippi State University is a public university. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Mississippi State University is 83% and the six-year graduation rate is 63%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about Mississippi State University.
Quick Facts
18,567
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
63%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Learn some important information about admission at Mississippi State University.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 18,125 in 2025.
Test Scores
6% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 85% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 17% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 35% between 1,200 and 1,399, 39% between 1,000 and 1,199, 7% of the students between 800 and 999, and 2% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 24, 35 between 24-29, 34 in the range between 18-23, and 6 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 25 while the average GPA was 3.6. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Mississippi State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 612 and an average SAT Math score of 605.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Mississippi State University was 83% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 63%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Mississippi State University in 2025 was 23,150.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 32.7% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 18,567, 260 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 1,909 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 9,189 male and 10,141 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 304, while the number of Black American students was 2,835. 830 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 507 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 85 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 133 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some important data on Mississippi State University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition fees for area resident were $10,454, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $27,487 in 2025. Tuition costs at Mississippi State University for international students were $27,487. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $150.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,487 | $150 | $27,637 |
| In-State | $10,454 | $150 | $10,604 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Mississippi State University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Mississippi State University amounted to $12,902 a year. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $8,016 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $8,301.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,454 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,902 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,556 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for finishing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Mississippi State University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 2,616 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $15,843 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 9,569 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 10,643. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $33,381,453, and state $10,425,708. The students of Mississippi State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $43,821,317, and external in the amount of $8,707,567.
$6,022
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,132 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. 473 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $29,992,954. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,554,127 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 1,497 teachers at this school. This number included 757 male and 740 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Mississippi State University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at Mississippi State University.
Its campus spans 4,200 acres.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
According to the most recent information, there are 515 open-membership organizations at Mississippi State University. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 15 and female students 18. The most popular student organization is AAPI Student Association, followed by Fashion Board and Residence Hall Association. Other popular organizations at Mississippi State University are Black Student Association and Student Association.
Those who have a talent for music can join the Mississippi State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Mississippi State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Mississippi State University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Mississippi State University.
All in all, campus life at Mississippi State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Mississippi State University.
Career Counselling
At Mississippi State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 59,291 USD.
$59,291
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, MS.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Mississippi State University is 77%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Mississippi State University is 83%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.