Mississippi State University
PublicMississippi State, MS
Mississippi State University was established on February 28, 1878, as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, one of the land-grant institutions created under the 1862 Morrill Act, and enrolled its first students in fall 1880. The university's colleges include the Bagley College of Engineering and the College of Veterinary Medicine, and it operates the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station across 16 branch locations statewide.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $18,991 more per year in tuition and fees (2.7x the in-state rate).
Tuition & fees are Mississippi State University's own published 2026-27 rates (source); other figures are from the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
Mississippi State University takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against Mississippi State University's numbers?
Check your chances hereSee full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Mississippi State University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mississippi State University's acceptance rate?
Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS admits approximately 78% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Mississippi State University?
Admitted students at Mississippi State University typically score between 1100–1350 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Mississippi State University?
Admitted students at Mississippi State University typically score between 21–29 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does Mississippi State University cost?
Mississippi State University's total cost of attendance is reported at $29,267 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does Mississippi State University offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- Mississippi State University takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at Mississippi State University?
For 2026-27, Mississippi State University's tuition and required fees are $30,086 for out-of-state students and $11,095 for in-state students -- $18,991 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
Does Mississippi State University require students to live on campus?
No -- Mississippi State University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
Related reading
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