Navigating Admissions at Mississippi State University: GPA, SAT Scores, and Requirements

Gaining admission to Mississippi State University (MSU) involves understanding several key factors, including GPA expectations, standardized test scores, and specific application requirements. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these elements to help prospective students prepare a strong application.

Understanding the Numbers: GPA, SAT, and Acceptance Rate

When evaluating your chances of admission, three numbers stand out: GPA, SAT scores (or ACT equivalent), and the acceptance rate. These metrics provide a general idea of the academic profile of admitted students.

GPA Expectations

The average GPA at Mississippi State University is 3.6. This figure suggests that successful applicants typically have a solid academic record, with a mix of A's and B's, leaning towards A's. Maintaining a GPA at or above this average strengthens your application. If your GPA falls below 3.6, a higher SAT/ACT score can help demonstrate your academic capabilities and readiness for college-level coursework.

The distribution of GPA among admitted students breaks down as follows:

3.75+: 51%
3.50-3.74: 18%
3.25-3.49: 11%
3.00-3.24: 8%
2.50-2.99: 9%
2.00-2.49: 3%
Below 2.00: 0%

Standardized Test Scores: SAT and ACT

Mississippi State University considers SAT/ACT scores if submitted, although they have a test-optional policy. This means students who choose not to submit scores will still be reviewed for admissibility. However, submitting strong scores can bolster your application.

Read also: MSU Admission GPA

SAT Scores:

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1105.
The 75th percentile SAT score is 1405.
This indicates that an SAT score between 1105 and 1405 places you within the average range of admitted students. A score above 1405 positions you as above average, while a score below 1105 suggests you are below average compared to other admitted students.

ACT Scores:

The average ACT score at Mississippi State University is 25.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 21.
The 75th percentile ACT score is 29.
Aiming for an ACT score of 21 or higher increases your chances of admission.

MSU's ACT code is 2220, and the SAT code is 1480. Request that official ACT or SAT scores be sent to Mississippi State University directly from the testing agency.

Acceptance Rate

Mississippi State University has an acceptance rate of 76.3%. This indicates that the university is not highly selective, and applicants who meet the basic requirements have a good chance of being admitted. As long as you don't fall well below the average GPA and test score ranges, your chances of receiving an offer of admission are high.

Application Requirements and Process

To apply to Mississippi State University, you'll need to fulfill certain requirements and follow a specific process.

Essential Application Components

High School Transcript: Submit an official high school transcript, including grades from 9th to 11th grade, as well as your senior year schedule. School counselors can also upload transcripts through Slate.org once verified by Slate.
Application Form: Complete the Mississippi State University application form.
Application Fee: Mississippi State University will waive the admissions application fee for freshman applicants who submit an approved ACT/SAT or NACAC Request for Waiver of College Application Fee form obtained from and signed by their high school counselor. This waiver is need-based and not related to the scores received on the ACT/SAT test. Once this form is completed and signed, students can upload the form to their applicant portal.
College Prep Courses: Required.
High School GPA: Required.
High School Rank: Recommended.
SAT/ACT Scores: Considered if submitted.
Recommendations: Neither required nor recommended.

College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)

Applicants must complete the Required and Recommended College Preparatory Curricula (CPC). The CPC includes specific course requirements in various subjects:

English: 4 units (all with substantial writing requirements)
Mathematics: 3 units (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry or a higher-level mathematics; Algebra I taken in the 8th grade will be accepted if the course content is the same as the high school course)
Science: 3 units (Physical Science, Biology, Advanced Biology, Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Botany, Marine Biology, or another science of comparable rigor)
Social Studies: History 1 unit, World History 1 unit; Government 1/2 unit; and Economics 1/2 unit or Geography 1/2 unit.
Advanced Electives: 2 units (select from Foreign Language, World Geography, 4th year laboratory-based Science, and 4th year Mathematics; one of the two required units must be a Foreign Language or World Geography)

Additional Considerations

Test-Optional Policy: Students who choose not to participate in ACT or SAT testing will be reviewed for admissibility.
Rolling Admissions: MSU has a rolling admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they are received.
Application Deadlines:
- Spring - Rolling beginning Sept. 1
- Summer - Rolling beginning Aug. 1

Special Admission Programs and Policies

Mississippi State University offers several special admission programs and policies to accommodate diverse student backgrounds and circumstances.

Special Non-Degree (SND) Student Category

An applicant who is twenty-one (21) years old and who does not meet the regular freshman admission requirements may apply for acceptance into the Special Non-Degree (SND) student category. Applicants must demonstrate adequate preparation for the courses they plan to schedule. SND students may schedule a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours during a regular term and three (6) semester hours during a five-week summer term. Students wishing to gain reclassification to a traditional major should discuss this during their initial meeting with one of the professional advisors in the University Academic Advising Center. Non-degree seeking adult applicants with previous college attendance who do not meet regular transfer requirements may be allowed to schedule courses for self improvement and/or job enhancement only.

Students with Academic Deficiencies

Mississippi residents who apply and fail to meet full admission standards may be admitted to the fall or summer term, provided that application materials are received prior to the first summer session. Students with an ACT English subscore of 17 or lower (or the equivalent SAT score) will be required to successfully complete EN 0103 Basic English before advancing to the English Composition sequence (EN 1103 and EN 1113).

If the initial review indicates inadequate readiness in English, reading, or mathematics, applicants may be required to participate in counseling and testing, which will be held on campus prior to the beginning of the summer session. Applicants who fail to successfully complete the counseling and testing program may be admitted with the requirement that they enroll in the Summer Developmental Program. This is an intensive program that concentrates on those high school subject areas (writing, reading, and mathematics) essential to success in first-year college courses. Students who successfully complete this summer program will be allowed to continue in the fall, with mandatory participation in the Academic Support Program during their freshman year. Developmental courses taken during the Summer Developmental Program are remedial and neither count toward a degree nor are computed in a student’s grade point average.

Home School Applicants

Home schooled applicants are required to meet the same requirements as other freshman applicants.

SPATS Program

SPATS students may take courses during the spring, summer, or fall term. Students are expected to return to high school and finish their senior year. The courses may not be substituted for high school credits to meet college admission requirements. Credit is reserved until the student has graduated from high school. A SPATS student is advised to take a maximum of six credit hours (two courses). Courses taken must not be the equivalent of those which the student will take in the senior year of high school.

Read also: Ole Miss: A Comprehensive Overview

High School Equivalency Examination

An applicant who has not graduated from high school may substitute the state approved high school equivalency examination for the requirement of high school graduation. The approved high school equivalency exam will substitute for the requirement of high school graduation only, and not for the other requirements for freshman admission. Therefore, applicants who took an approved high school equivalency exam must submit an acceptable ACT/SAT score.

Academic Standing and GPA Policies

Mississippi State University prescribes minimum standards of scholarship for determining whether a student is to be continued or discontinued. This determination is made at the end of the fall and spring semesters, at the end of the summer session, or any part of a semester in which the student has been enrolled.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative MSU GPA is less than 2.00 at the end of any term will enter the next term on academic probation and will remain on probation until the GPA reaches 2.00 or higher. The course load for students on academic probation is restricted to a total of 16 credit hours; a student on academic probation who enrolls concurrently in excess of this limit in correspondence courses or at another institution will not receive credit at Mississippi State University for such courses.

Academic Suspension

Academic suspension shall be for at least one regular (fall or spring) semester. For students suspended at the end of a spring semester, the suspension precludes enrollment in any summer school session as well as the following fall semester. The student will be readmitted on academic probation following the expiration of the first suspension. A student who attends another university during a suspension from MSU must maintain a 2.0 GPA (calculated by MSU standards) on any transfer work. Students who fail to meet these criteria may be readmitted only on the recommendation of their dean and with the approval of the Provost.

Academic Dismissal

A student who has already received an academic suspension who fails to earn a current GPA of 2.0 or higher, and who has less than the required MSU Cumulative GPA, will be placed on academic dismissal. A student who receives an academic dismissal will not be automatically or routinely readmitted. In addition, readmission will not normally be considered until the student has been absent from the University for one calendar year. The Provost/Executive Vice President may approve the readmission of an academically dismissed student only upon the recommendation of the student’s academic dean based on a written petition by the student.

Appeal Process

Appeal for a waiver of suspension or dismissal, because of unusual circumstances, should be made through the student’s academic dean to the Executive Vice President or Provost for Academic Affairs.

VA Benefits

A student’s continued entitlement to the Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits is determined as follows: If a student’s cumulative average falls below the acceptable level, he/she will be placed on “first probation to receive VA benefits.” If during the first probation semester, a student does not improve his or her cumulative GPA, VA benefits will be suspended at the end of the semester. If a student’s cumulative GPA improves but an acceptable level is still not achieved, a “second probation to receive VA benefits” semester will be allowed. If the standards of progress are not achieved at the end of the second probation semester, VA benefits will be suspended. Based on VA rules and regulations, students receiving VA educational benefits will receive benefits only for courses that apply toward a degree program.

Academic Amnesty Policy

Students who have not been enrolled in any post-secondary institution for five years may apply for admission or readmission under the academic amnesty policy through their academic dean’s offices. Academic Amnesty may be applied to a student’s record only once, and the new grade point average will be noted on the transcript at the end of the semester during which the request was approved. Students admitted under this policy must complete current curriculum requirements in residence to earn a degree.

Academic Fresh-Start Policy

Students who have not been enrolled in any post-secondary institution at any time for at least 24 consecutive months may petition for admission or readmission through their academic dean’s offices under the academic fresh-start policy. All college credits earned prior to being granted academic fresh start will be eliminated from the computation of the student’s grade point average and may never be used toward graduation at Mississippi State University. The student’s transcript will reflect the complete academic record but will contain the notation at the appropriate point that all academic work prior to the consecutive twenty-four months absence would be declared void for the purposes of academic standing and graduation. Students admitted under this policy must complete current curriculum requirements in residency to earn a degree.

Academic Forgiveness (Course Retake) Policy

Effective fall semester 2007, for courses taken during or after fall semester 2003, an undergraduate student will be permitted to retake up to two (2) courses, not to exceed eight (8) credit undergraduate semester hours, or one (1) course not to exceed nine (9) credit undergraduate semester hours, in which he or she made a B, C, D, or F with the original grade remaining on the transcript but not counted towards the student’s GPA. After the retake, the original grade is left on the student’s record but is not counted in the grade point totals.

Graduate School Admission and Policies

Graduate Admission Requirements

To graduate, the student must complete all University and degree program requirements listed in the Graduate Catalog. A graduate student cannot graduate under any of the following circumstances. No graduate courses with pass/fail credit are accepted as part of a graduate program.

Provisional Admission

The provisionally admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 or higher GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C unless one-course retake is approved per the Graduate Course Retake Policy). The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's Program of Study. Courses with an S grade or transfer credits cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. Academic departments may set higher standards for students to fulfill provisional requirements; a student admitted with provisional status should contact the Graduate Coordinator for the program’s specific requirements. While in provisional status, a student may be limited in the type of funding that can be used for a graduate assistantship (eg, positions that are state funded).

Academic Probation (Graduate)

A graduate student should be placed on probation by the department when academic deficiencies occur but the student can potentially meet all degree requirements successfully. A student may also be placed on academic probation if they fall short of any other standards for satisfactory academic performance established by their academic unit. Specific information relative to retaking of courses or completing remedial work will be established by the appropriate academic advisor, graduate committee, and Graduate Coordinator and shall be documented in written form. This remediation plan must specify a required date of completion. If the student intends to pursue the academic appeal process relating to the reason for being placed on probation, they must do so during the first probationary semester.

Academic Dismissal (Graduate)

A student shall be dismissed by the Graduate School for failure to meet University requirements as stated above after the academic unit confirms that there are no extenuating circumstances. The student may refer to the Graduate Catalog for information regarding the appeals process (see Academic Dismissal Appeal Procedure). A student who has been dismissed from a graduate program and has not been reinstated via the appeal process cannot apply for readmission into that program, except by meeting the conditions necessary to request Academic Amnesty (see Academic Amnesty). Students are entitled to only one academic dismissal appeal.

Graduate Student Appeal Process

The following section outlines the graduate student appeal process and should be followed for any appeal a student wishes to make (e.g., dismissal, probationary status). Students should also note AOP 12.37 Graduate Student Academic Grievance Procedures for issues not related to academic performance or standing within a program. A graduate student wishing to appeal a decision of dismissal must begin the process within 15 business days, excluding University holidays. The entire appeal process consists of up to three stages. Any new information added to the supporting documentation after a denial will be submitted to the denying unit for review with their option to include a letter addressing the new information which will be included in the appeal. This letter will be submitted within 5 business days of receipt of the additional material.

Appeal to the Department Head: The appeal to the Department Head is submitted by letter along with relevant support documentation within 15 business days. The Department Head informs the Graduate Coordinator and Academic Dean when an appeal is received. In rendering a decision, the Department Head may convene an existing or ad hoc departmental committee to review the appeal and offer a recommendation to the Department Head, or the Department Head may choose to render a decision themselves. The Department Head may or may not choose to adhere to the recommendation of the appeals committee.

Appeal to the Academic Dean: If the appeal is denied at the departmental level, the student may appeal the departmental decision by submitting a written request with all relevant supporting documentation to the Academic Dean within 15 days of the receipt of the Department Head's decision. The Academic Dean informs the Graduate Coordinator and Department Head when an appeal is received. In rendering a decision, the Academic Dean may convene an existing or ad hoc college committee to review the appeal and offer a recommendation to the Dean, or the Dean may render a decision themselves or by someone appointed by the Dean to review such matters. The Academic Dean may or may not choose to adhere to the recommendation of the appeals committee.

Appeal to the Provost: If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Academic Dean, the student may submit a final appeal to the Provost. The appeal to the Office of the Provost is submitted by letter along with relevant supporting documentation within 15 days of receipt of the Academic Dean's decision. The Provost will inform the Dean of the Graduate School when an appeal is received. In rendering a decision, the Provost may request that the Dean of the Graduate School convene a subcommittee consisting of three voting members of the Graduate Council who do not have a conflict of interest with the graduate student or the student's department to review the appeal and offer a recommendation to the Provost. A subcommittee chair will be named by the Dean of the Graduate School. Relevant supporting documents submitted by the student, department, and/or the Graduate School will be assembled by the Graduate School and delivered electronically to the subcommittee for review. The recommendation of the subcommittee will be conveyed to the Provost in writing and copied to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Provost may or may not choose to adhere to the recommendation of the appeals subcommittee. The Provost will render a decision in writing to the student and copy the notification to the Department Head, Academic Dean, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Recourse to the Provost is the final stage of appeal.

Academic Amnesty (Graduate)

With notification from the Dean of the Graduate School, the Registrar's Office will segment the student's academic record showing all courses and grades to be included in academic amnesty and recalculate the graduate GPA accordingly. The student is permitted to retake a course that was included as part of the 9 hours of coursework eliminated under the academic amnesty, if permitted by the academic program. All courses and grades attempted at MSU will remain a part of the student's academic record. A notation will appear on the transcript indicating the student was approved from academic amnesty.

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