Mississippi State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Mississippi State, Mississippi. It enrolls 18,397 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes69
Value58
Affordability52
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77.6%, Mississippi State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1100 – 1350
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Mississippi State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
22.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mississippi State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,595 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,595
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,202
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,637
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,902
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,187
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,409
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,409
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,267
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,332
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,372
$48,001 – $75,000
$18,671
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,704
Over $110,000
$22,987
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,08325%percentile
$22,142Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$38,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,500
↓ $4,642
No Pell $15,000
↓ $7,142
Dependent students $16,000
↓ $6,142
Independent students $17,780
↓ $4,362
Female students $17,750
↓ $4,392
Male students $15,000
↓ $7,142
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,081, less than completers ($22,142), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Mississippi State University graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mississippi State University earn a median of $51,513 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,513
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,300, about 33% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Mississippi State University is home to 18,397 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
18,397
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.5%13,345
Black 15.9%2,916
Hispanic 4.6%852
Other 3.3%609
Asian 1.7%305
International 1.3%245
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mississippi State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMississippi State, Mississippi
Housing
Partly residential5,333 beds available
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Mississippi State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
147 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,748
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$709M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$86,948
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,035 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
242
23%
$121,530
Associate Professors
267
26%
$91,646
Assistant Professors
306
30%
$82,446
Instructors
170
16%
$54,444
Lecturers
50
5%
$32,556
Pros & Cons of Mississippi State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mississippi State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Mississippi State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mississippi State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mississippi State University.
Is Mississippi State University hard to get into?
Mississippi State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University has an acceptance rate of 77.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Mississippi State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mississippi State University scored between 1100 and 1350 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Mississippi State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mississippi State University scored between 21 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Mississippi State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Mississippi State University is $17,595 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mississippi State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,513 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,595 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mississippi State University known for?
Mississippi State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mississippi State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mississippi State University are $51,513, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mississippi State University accredited?
Yes. Mississippi State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University enrolls 18,397 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mississippi State University a public or private college?
Mississippi State University is a Public institution.
Where is Mississippi State University located?
Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi.
What programs does Mississippi State University offer?
Mississippi State University offers 147 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mississippi State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Mississippi
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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