- Acceptance rate: 78% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 560–670 reading and writing, 540–680 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 21–29 composite
- Average net price: $16,480 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Mississippi State University reported: an acceptance rate of 78% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 21–29.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Mississippi State University reviews each application.
Mississippi State University GPA requirements
Mississippi State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Mississippi State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Mississippi State University acceptance rate
Mississippi State University admitted 18,125 of 23,346 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 78%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Mississippi State University is a public 4-year university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, with 18,567 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Mississippi State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 560 | 620 | 670 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 590 | 680 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 | 29 |
| ACT English | 21 | 24 | 30 |
| ACT Math | 19 | 24 | 27 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1219 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Mississippi State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Mississippi State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $16,480 a year at Mississippi State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Mississippi State University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Mississippi State University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Is it easy to get into Mississippi State University?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Mississippi State University admitted 78% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is the acceptance rate at Mississippi State University?
Mississippi State University's acceptance rate was 78% for fall 2024: it admitted 18,125 of 23,346 first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does Mississippi State University look for?
Mississippi State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How important is GPA for getting into Mississippi State University?
A lot: Mississippi State University requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It considers high school class rank and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Mississippi State University?
No. Mississippi State University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 6% sent SAT scores and 85% sent ACT scores.
What SAT and ACT scores do Mississippi State University students have?
The middle 50% of Mississippi State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 560–670 in reading and writing and 540–680 in math; ACT composite 21–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What do students pay at Mississippi State University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $16,480 a year at Mississippi State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Mississippi State University accept AP credit?
Yes. Mississippi State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Mississippi State University look at legacy status?
No. Mississippi State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Mississippi State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Mississippi State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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