Mississippi State's 2027-28 scholarship chart pays Mississippi residents $1,000 to $10,500 a year, set by ACT score and GPA, and pays non-residents $12,000 to $19,000 a year on GPA alone, with no test score required. Both awards are automatic on admission and renew for up to eight semesters.
Mississippi State University publishes two very different charts. Residents get a grid where the ACT does most of the work. Non-residents get a simple GPA ladder that ignores test scores entirely. That's close to the reverse of what in-state rival Ole Miss does, where the non-resident award is the one tied to test scores. For how these charts work in general, see what an automatic scholarship chart is.
Mississippi State scholarship chart for Mississippi residents (2027-28)
A minimum 3.0 GPA (9th-11th grade) and a 21 ACT are needed to qualify.
| ACT | GPA 3.0-3.29 | GPA 3.30-3.59 | GPA 3.6 and above |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21-24 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| 25-29 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| 30-32 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $8,000 |
| 33-36 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
All amounts are per year. The resident chart is published in ACT bands only.
Mississippi State scholarship chart for out-of-state students (2027-28)
| High School GPA | Annual Award |
|---|---|
| 3.30-3.59 | $12,000 |
| 3.60-4.09 | $16,000 |
| 4.10 and above | $19,000 |
The non-resident minimum is a 3.30 GPA, and no test score is used to set the amount.
The part that surprises people: the GPA band matters more than a few ACT points
On the resident chart, moving up a GPA band is often worth more than moving up an ACT band. A student with a 3.6 GPA and a 21 ACT gets $3,500 a year, more than a student with a 3.0 GPA and a 30 ACT ($3,000), despite scoring nine points lower. At the top the gap gets much bigger: a 33+ ACT pays $4,000 at a 3.0-3.29 GPA but $10,500 at 3.6 or above. The 3.6 line is the one to watch.
For out-of-state students the logic is simpler. Only GPA counts, so a strong test score won't raise the award. The jump from the 3.30-3.59 band ($12,000) to the 3.60-4.09 band ($16,000) is worth $16,000 over four years.
Superscores, test dates and the housing scholarship
- Superscores count, but only three sections. Mississippi State uses a 3-part ACT superscore that excludes Science.
- Late test dates are allowed. Scores are accepted through the February test date of senior year.
- A 34+ ACT (or SAT equivalent) adds a year of housing. Residents and non-residents both receive a one-year, on-campus housing scholarship worth their share of a double-occupancy room.
- Competitive awards can stack. Admitted students can file the General Scholarship Application from October 1, 2026; the priority date is December 1, 2026. Non-residents with a 3.3 GPA and a 31+ ACT superscore (or 1390+ SAT) can apply for the stackable Maroon & White Scholarship that way.
Renewal requires full-time enrollment and the overall Mississippi State GPA listed in your scholarship offer letter.
What this means for you
- Mississippi residents: the 3.6 GPA line is worth the most. At every ACT level, it's the biggest step up on the chart.
- Out-of-state students: your test score won't change the base award. Spend the effort on GPA, or aim for 34+ if the housing scholarship is within reach.
- Retest through February. Superscoring and the late test-date cutoff give you room to move up a resident tier.
- Compare it with Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Alabama and Auburn, or check all charts at once with the scholarship finder.