Mississippi State University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

For undergraduates, MSU follows a rolling admission system. It means admissions will be open for students until a class completes its 10th day after lectures commence. The application opening date for Spring and Fall semesters will open by early September and early August, respectively. International applicants are suggested to apply at least four months in advance. Although graduate programme deadlines vary as per programme and course, the generic deadlines are as follows:

Mississippi State University may void enrollment if an official transcript is not received; if a student is not eligible for readmission to any college formerly attended; or if any document is fraudulent or altered. International graduate applicants must request an official transcript from the bachelor’s degree institution and from each college or university attended following the bachelor’s degree. All academic transcripts (in English or translated into English) need to be sent directly to the university in a sealed envelope bearing the institution’s return address with the Registrar’s signature or stamp across the flap. Apart from this, the following application documents are required:

International undergraduate applicants can apply via any one of the following ways:

• Common Application
• Coalition Application
• Mississippi State University Application

The university will accept only one application from either of the three portals. Duplicate applications may get rejected. Students who are applying to other US universities via the Common App or Coalition App can apply to MSU through these portals as well.

International graduate applicants need to apply to the university directly using its online application portal. International students can start by filling the application portal of MSU visiting this site apply.msstate.edu/ (undergraduate) or apply.grad.msstate.edu/ (graduate) and follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Create an account on this portal first and then begin the registration process.

Step 2: After logging in to the portal, international students can click on the ‘Start New Application’ option. Now, students can click on the ‘Create Application’ button. Finally, they can open the application form by clicking on the ‘Open Application’ button and start filling in the necessary details. 

Step 3: After clicking on ‘Open Application’, students can start by filling up their personal details.

Step 4: Once students provide their personal information, they need to choose their preferred campus and entry term and provide other details.

Step 5: Finally, they may review their application before submitting it.

Mississippi State University's acceptance rate is 70%. Half of the candidates admitted to Mississippi State who submitted test scores had a SAT score of 1070 to 1280 or an ACT score of 21 to 29.
Mississippi State University admissions officers place a high value on a student's GPA. An applicant's high school class rank, if available, is relevant, however Mississippi State University admissions officers do not examine letters of recommendation.

International undergraduate applicants must have a Diploma from secondary school or secondary leaving examination (US equivalent) to be eligible for admission. SAT or ACT scores are required only if GPA is below 3.0 based on the evaluation of transcripts or if applying for scholarships. International applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency to register for academic courses offered through the colleges. Any one of the following scores are acceptable to demonstrate English language proficiency:

International students who have earned a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university or college in the United States need not provide English proficiency test scores. However, students who have graduated from countries where English is not the first or official language must provide these scores. For regular admission, the following scores are accepted:

The following colleges need higher English language test scores than usual for direct admissions:

MSU offers various scholarships to international applicants, however, the scholarship programs of MSU are reviewed every year, and therefore, they are subject to frequent changes. Freshman applicants are eligible for the General Scholarships awarded on the basis of GPA and official ACT/SAT scores submitted to the university while applying.  A minimum GPA of 3.0 and SAT/ACT scores of 20 and 1030, respectively, are required to be eligible for this scholarship. Students need to submit this application form even to participate in competitive, private, departmental, service, and leadership scholarships. International students should maintain their full-time enrollment and required GPA for scholarship renewal, as scholarships are reviewed once the Spring semester ends. The deadline for submitting the General Scholarship application is in early October.

Graduate Fellowships

Graduate students who need financial support may apply for fellowships that vary as per department. They are mostly awarded on the basis of merit or as an external award to help students complete their coursework. Fellowships allow graduates to complete their studies without taking up teaching or research assistantships.

International undergraduate applicants must have a Diploma from secondary school or secondary leaving examination (US equivalent) to be eligible for admission. SAT or ACT scores are required only if GPA is below 3.0 based on the evaluation of transcripts or if applying for scholarships. International applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency to register for academic courses offered through the colleges. Any one of the following scores are acceptable to demonstrate English language proficiency:

Note: Freshmen who have both a high school GPA of less than 2.5 on the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) and a composite ACT score of less than 21 will be placed in the undecided major category. They will be advised by the University Academic Advising Center until 30 credit hours of core classes have been completed.

Graduate applicants must have a US-equivalent bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. If the bachelor’s degree was obtained from an institution after completing less than 60 to 70 hours, applicants must provide documents reflecting their studies at previous institutions. Some graduate departments may ask applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores.

International students who have earned a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university or college in the United States need not provide English proficiency test scores. However, students who have graduated from countries where English is not the first or official language must provide these scores. For regular admission, the following scores are accepted:

The following colleges need higher English language test scores than usual for direct admissions:

Some departments and programs may require additional academic credentials and requirements. Therefore, students must refer to the official website for the exact details on eligibility criteria and admission requirements. 

International students can live in the residential halls built inside the university campus. MSU also offers accommodation facilities to students through College View. College View is a development that allows students of the upper-division to choose from four-bedroom plans, two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio apartments available inside the campus. These apartments are well-furnished and have many utilities and facilities. There are two types of residential halls – traditional style and new constructions – from which students can choose to stay.

The cost per semester for rooms in these residential halls vary as per room type, style and residence hall but usually falls between these ranges:

The accommodation and living costs may vary year after year. Also, there might be additional charges associated with a particular residential hall or utility. Therefore, students must refer only to MSU’s official website for the exact details of room rent and living expenses. 

Mississippi State University will provide full admission to high school graduates who finish the CPC with one of the following: A minimum of 3.20 grade-point average (GPA) on the CPC. A minimum CPC GPA of 2.50, an ACT composite score of 16 or higher, or a SAT combined score of 770 or higher.