Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi · Public · 18,397 undergraduates · msstate.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
78%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1100 to 1350
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$35,430Est.Estimate
$55,120 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Mississippi State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
78% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$39,120
a year in 2027-28, from a $55,120 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1230
Send your score
About 28% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1030, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Named scholarships you may qualify for (3)
National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package
$12,000 a year
You meet 3.00+ GPA. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package
$12,000 a year
You meet 3.00+ GPA. Also needs National Merit Semifinalist standing.
2 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your unweighted GPA is below 3.2, you must send a score.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Freshman Admissions | Office of Undergraduate Admissions · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
78%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1100 to 1350
Reading and Writing 560 to 670
Math 540 to 680
ACT composite 21 to 29
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$35,430
a year, in state
$55,120
a year, out of state (tuition $31,110)
- Tuition (in state)$11,420
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,042
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,564
- $48,001 to $75,000$18,211
- $75,001 to $110,000$20,859
- Over $110,000$24,032
Financial aidEstimate
53%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
96%
of freshmen receive grants
$13,852
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Freshman Non-Resident Academic Scholarship
$12,000 to $19,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 3.30 to 3.59 GPA$12,000
- 3.60 to 4.09 GPA$16,000
- 4.10+ GPA$19,000
To keep it: a 3.0 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester) every fall and spring semester.
DetailsFreshman Mississippi Resident Academic Scholarship
$1,000 to $10,500 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.00 to 3.29 GPA, 1060 to 1190 SAT or 21 to 24 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$1,000
- 3.30 to 3.59 GPA, 1060 to 1190 SAT or 21 to 24 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$1,500
- 3.60+ GPA, 1060 to 1190 SAT or 21 to 24 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$3,500
- 3.00 to 3.29 GPA, 1200 to 1350 SAT or 25 to 29 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$2,000
- 3.30 to 3.59 GPA, 1200 to 1350 SAT or 25 to 29 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$2,500
- 3.60+ GPA, 1200 to 1350 SAT or 25 to 29 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$5,000
- 3.00 to 3.29 GPA, 1360 to 1440 SAT or 30 to 32 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$3,000
- 3.30 to 3.59 GPA, 1360 to 1440 SAT or 30 to 32 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$5,000
- 3.60+ GPA, 1360 to 1440 SAT or 30 to 32 ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$8,000
- 3.00 to 3.29 GPA, 1450+ SAT or 33+ ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$4,000
- 3.30 to 3.59 GPA, 1450+ SAT or 33+ ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$6,000
- 3.60+ GPA, 1450+ SAT or 33+ ACT, 9th-11th grade GPA (higher of transcript or MSU core GPA); ACT/SAT superscored through February of senior year$10,500
To keep it: a 3.0 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester) every fall and spring semester.
DetailsSTAR Student Scholarship
$2,000 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.00+ GPA, named STAR Student by Mississippi Business Alliance
Deadline: August 1, 2027 (priority). To keep it: it's a one-time award and doesn't renew.
DetailsFreshman One-Year Housing Scholarship
Automatic · No separate application
Covers an on-campus double-occupancy residence hall space for the freshman year only; part of automatic package
- 3.00+ GPA, 1490+ SAT or 34+ ACT
Deadline: Scores by February test date of senior year. To keep it: it's a one-time award and doesn't renew.
Details
Show 7 more scholarships
Luckyday Scholars Program Scholarship
$6,000 a year
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.50+ GPA, 20+ ACT, leadership, community involvement, grit/resilience; Luckyday application
Deadline: January 15, 2027 (priority). To keep it: a 2.5 college GPA, stay a full-time student, and meet the program's requirements.
DetailsSalutatorian Scholarship
$2,000 a year
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.00+ GPA, salutatorian
Deadline: August 1, 2027 (priority). To keep it: it's a one-time award and doesn't renew.
DetailsValedictorian Scholarship
$2,000 a year
Competitive · In-state students · Application required
- 3.00+ GPA, valedictorian
Deadline: August 1, 2027 (priority). To keep it: it's a one-time award and doesn't renew.
DetailsPresidential Endowed Scholarship Package
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
- 3.75+ GPA, 1360+ SAT or 30+ ACT, Shackouls Honors College member; separate application
Deadline: December 1, 2026. To keep it: a 3.4 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student every fall and spring semester.
DetailsNational Merit Finalist Scholarship Package
$12,000 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- 3.00+ GPA, National Merit Finalist naming MSU first choice
To keep it: a 3.0 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester) every fall and spring semester.
DetailsNational Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package
$12,000 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- 3.00+ GPA, National Merit Semifinalist
To keep it: a 3.0 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester) every fall and spring semester.
DetailsNational Recognition Program Scholarship
$10,000 a year
National Merit · In-state students · Application required
- 3.00+ GPA, College Board National Recognition Program awardee; upload certificate
Deadline: December 1, 2026 (priority). To keep it: a 3.0 overall college GPA, and stay a full-time student (12 credit hours a semester) every fall and spring semester.
Details
Mississippi programs for residents
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
$2,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT, Entering freshman; first certificate/associate/bachelor's program
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
$500 to $1,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 2.50+ GPA, 15+ ACT, Entering freshman; must NOT be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant (FAFSA); GED or homeschool alternatives to GPA
Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP)
State program · In-state students
Tuition and required fees at a public institution; private: average tuition/fees of public 4-year (or 2-year) institutions
- 2.50+ GPA, 20+ ACT, Graduating high school senior; parents' average AGI <= $42,500 (+$5,000 per additional dependent child under 21); SAI at or below level for a minimum Pell Grant; graduated HS within prior 2 years; apply by Mar 31, documents by Apr 30
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
After college
Graduate within 6 years
69%
Come back for a second year
83%
Typical earnings
$54,296
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Mississippi State University$45,236
- All colleges$57,284
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 46 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Mississippi State University. The Mississippi State University logo is a trademark of the college.