Mississippi State University — College Profile

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These figures are federal data and may be out of date.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.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students

$0–30k

$14,332

$30–48k

$14,372

$48–75k

$18,671

$75–110k

$20,704

$110k+

$22,987

Your family's actual price → Mississippi State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Grants from the school

91% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $11,518

Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)

Merit aid

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%

Within 4 yrs

46%

Back for yr 2

83%

Transferred

Pell students: 49.8% · others: 74.4%

8 yrs after starting

63% graduated · 28% transferred · 9% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings

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

Admit rate

78%

Test policy

Test optional

Policy page

SAT average

1219

R 560–670 · M 540–680

ACT midpoint

Comp 21–29 · E 21–30 · M 19–27

SAT middle 50%: 1100–1350

40080012001600

Admitted students

Admit rate: men 78.5% · women 77.1%

Yield: 19.8% of admitted students enroll

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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

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Where first-years come from

In state (MS)

55.5%

Out of state

43.4%

International

1.0%

Most out-of-state first-years from: TN 410 · AL 353 · GA 170 · LA 133 · TX 117

Race & ethnicity

White

73%

Hispanic

Black

16%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS

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

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