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Mississippi State University
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 academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 76%. The freshman retention rate at Mississippi State University is 83%.
To find out more about what Mississippi State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
18,230
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
76%
Acceptance Rate
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. How difficult is it to get admitted to Mississippi State University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 15,934 in 2024. Mississippi State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 5% and ACT scores 84%. 26% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 28% between 1,200 and 1,399, 38% between 1,000 and 1,199, 6% of the students between 800 and 999, and 3% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 23, 36 between 24-29, 34 in the range between 18-23, and 7 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2024 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 590 and an average SAT Math score of 590.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. 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.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Mississippi State University was 83%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal fit for you is not simple. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 22,657 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 32.2% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 18,230, 230 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,749.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 8,952 male and 9,914 female full-time students in 2024. 880 full-time graduate men and 1,261 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 291, while the number of Black American students was 2,634. 746 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 472 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 86 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 136 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Mississippi State University.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Mississippi State University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $10,052 for area residents. Tuition fees were $27,487 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $27,487, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $150 in 2024.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,487 | $150 | $27,637 |
| In-State | $10,052 | $150 | $10,202 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2024, room and board cost at Mississippi State University amounted to $12,902 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 added up to $8,016 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $8,301.
| Tuition | $ 10,052 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,902 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,154 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Mississippi State University.
The most recent records show that 2,383 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,760.42.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
9,487 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 10,555. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $31,001,530, and state $10,799,403. The students of Mississippi State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $40,655,467, and external in the amount of $7,452,458.
$6,056
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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,196 students overall (including freshmen) at Mississippi State University in 2024. 487 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $30,340,312. 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 $2,589,272 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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2024, this ratio at Mississippi State University was 16:1. That means that there were 16 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,458. This number included 758 men and 700 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Mississippi State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Mississippi State University.
It has a campus size of 4,200 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 400 open-membership organizations at Mississippi State University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 15 percent of male and 18 of female students are involved in different organizations at Mississippi State University. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Campus Activities Board, followed by Fashion Board and Residence Hall Association. Other popular student organizations at this school are Black Student Alliance and Student Association.
Those who have a talent for music can join the Mississippi State University band or chorus. If acting is an interest of yours, there is a drama club you can join. For students interested in media and communication, Mississippi State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Mississippi State University offers a number of services needed for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 highly beneficial 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.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating 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 has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Mississippi State University is 76%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Mississippi State University is 83%.
Contact Information
Mississippi State University,
75 B.S. Hood Drive
Mississippi State, MS
39762
662 325-2323
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.