Colleges › Mississippi › Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
Most applicants get into Mississippi State University — 77.6% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Mississippi State University anchors the college town of Mississippi State, MS, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, where graduates median $106,039 four years out. Faculty pay averages $121,200 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 18,397 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1110 and 1410 — above the MS middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Mississippi State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Mississippi State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1110 and 1410; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 570 | 610 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 610 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 | 29 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Mississippi State University received 20,877 applications and admitted 15,934 (76.3%), with 3,751 enrolling.
How Mississippi State University compares
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77.6% | 77.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,202 | $10,202 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,513 | $42,539 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Mississippi State University student earns $51,513 — 21% above the Mississippi median of $42,539 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Mississippi State University prices by residency: $10,202 in-state versus $27,637 out-of-state — a $17,435 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
18,397 undergraduates make Mississippi State University a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
66.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 33% don't — ask a Mississippi State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Mississippi State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $106,039 |
| Chemical Engineering | $95,968 |
| Construction Management | $94,068 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,893 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,332 |
| Engineering, Other | $91,124 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $88,444 |
| Computer Engineering | $85,275 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $82,852 |
| Civil Engineering | $81,203 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $79,068 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $78,998 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $74,780 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $74,542 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,904 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $70,367 |
| Mathematics | $69,787 |
| Architecture | $69,699 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $69,160 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $62,082 |
| Interior Architecture | $61,421 |
| Marketing | $61,364 |
| Forestry | $58,499 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,993 |
| Political Science and Government | $54,325 |
| Animal Sciences | $52,755 |
| Biology, General | $51,221 |
| Plant Sciences | $50,653 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,503 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $50,176 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $49,541 |
| Criminology | $48,805 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,493 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $46,129 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $45,445 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $44,979 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $42,399 |
| Psychology, General | $41,986 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,627 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,446 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $41,439 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,431 |
| Food Science and Technology | $39,940 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $38,939 |
| Social Work | $37,656 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $36,617 |
| History | $36,614 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $35,877 |
Median earnings for these 48 Mississippi State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,513 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 38 additional Mississippi State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Mississippi State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1110–1410 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 77.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Mississippi State University's acceptance rate?
76.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 15,934 admitted from 20,877 applicants.
How much does Mississippi State University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,202; out-of-state students pay $27,637. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Mississippi State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,513 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Mississippi
- William Carey University — 60.3% admitted
- Mississippi Christian University — 29.1% admitted
- Mississippi Valley State University — 92.4% admitted
- Mississippi University for Women — 90.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.