US CollegesGetting in
Mississippi State University admits 78% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1219 out of 1600 (midpoints: 580 in reading and writing, 575 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 26 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Mississippi | $10,604 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $28,736 |
| Room and meals on campus | $13,514 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $30,713 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,781 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 71% above the median net price of colleges in Mississippi on this site ($11,006). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up 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 |
| Above $110,000 | $24,032 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | MS median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 82% | 68% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 69% | 49% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $54,296 | $38,159 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $20,500 | $18,930 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Mississippi and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
33% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 38% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 51% women and 49% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 2 of the 32 colleges in Mississippi on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,178.
Other colleges in Mississippi of a similar size
- University of MississippiUniversity, public
- University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, public
- Jackson State UniversityJackson, public
- Mississippi Christian UniversityClinton, private nonprofit
- Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State, public
- William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University admits 78% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Mississippi State University?
Published tuition and fees are $10,604 a year for students from Mississippi and $28,736 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Mississippi State University?
69% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.