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Mississippi State, MS · Hattiesburg, MS
| Mississippi State University | University of Southern Mississippi | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,595/yr | $21,708/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $14,332/yr | $19,867/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,142 | $22,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $14,372/yr | $20,432/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,671/yr | $22,756/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,704/yr | $25,812/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $22,987/yr | $26,542/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $235/mo | $239/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,902/yr | $11,920/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,187/yr | $10,322/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $852/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,409/yr | $5,090/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $29,267/yr | $26,566/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,202/yr | $9,998/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $27,637/yr | $11,998/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 29% | 46% |
| Students taking federal loans | 39% | 48% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 78% | 99% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1100–1350 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1219 | 1190 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 21–29 | 20–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 21–30 · Math 19–27 | English 19–28 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 20,877 | 8,818 |
| Students accepted | 15,934 | 8,763 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,751 | 1,733 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 24% | 20% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 5% | 0% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 84% | 98% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 67% | 49% |
| Freshmen who come back | 83% | 72% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $51,513/yr | $44,140/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $33,648–$77,474 | $28,070–$66,054 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 64% | 53% |
| White students graduating | 72% | 58% |
| Black students graduating | 48% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 63% | 59% |
| Asian students graduating | 73% | 42% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,487/yr | $37,710/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 68% |
| Graduate on time | 46% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 50% | 40% |
| First-gen students who finish | 50% | 36% |
| Low-income students who finish | 45% | 32% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $46,795/yr | $40,972/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Engineering 18% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Health Professions 12% · Education 7% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Engineering — 18% of degrees | Health Professions — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 8% of degrees | Education — 7% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Veterinary Medicine — $98,378/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $180,486/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 31% | 17% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 18,397 | 10,075 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 4,583 | 2,977 |
| Average professor pay | $10,100/mo | $8,697/mo |
| Full-time professors | 83% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $38,988 | $27,959 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | City (small) |
| Location | Mississippi State, MS | Hattiesburg, MS |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1878 | 1910 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.3% | 4.8% |
| Men | 49% | 38% |
| Women | 51% | 62% |
| White students | 73% | 56% |
| Black students | 16% | 27% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 4.6% | 4.9% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Two or more races | 2.8% | 3.5% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 25% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 8.3% | 14% |
| Students age 25+ | 7.5% | 18% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,632/yr | $8,263/yr |
| Endowment | $894.7M | $160.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 5,333 | 3,539 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,238/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $4,586/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | Land-grant institution | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 386 | 368 |
| Athletic scholarships | $11.4M | $6.0M |
| Athletics budget | $157.3M | $31.9M |
| Athletics revenue | $157.3M | $31.9M |
| Recruiting spend | $3.2M | $781,566 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.