Freshman
Regular Admission.
- Submit application for admission.
- Submit a $40 non-refundable application fee.
- Must have graduated from an approved secondary school.
- Request that official ACT or SAT scores be sent to Mississippi State University directly from the testing agency. MSU’s ACT code is 2220 and the SAT code is 1480. (The writing test of the ACT and SAT are not considered for admission or scholarship awarding purposes.)
- Submit a six-semester high school transcript to Mississippi State University, as well as an official transcript upon graduation from high school. If the applicant has attended another college, he/she must request those transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
- Must satisfactorily complete the following College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with an appropriate core grade-point average:
| Subject | Units |
|---|---|
| English | 4 Carnegie units - All must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading and Writing may not be included. |
| Mathematics | 3 Carnegie units - Algebra I or its equivalent, Math higher than Algebra I (2 units) |
| Science | 3 Carnegie units - Biology I or its equivalent, Science higher than Biology I (2 units) |
| Social Science | 3 Carnegie units - U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government (1/2 unit), Economics (1/2 unit), or Introduction to World Geography (1/2 unit) |
| Arts | 1 Carnegie unit - Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two 1/2 units) of visual and performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high school graduation. |
| Advanced Electives | 2 Carnegie units - Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II; Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced World Geography; Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higher than Algebra I, Science higher than Biology I, Advanced Elective category, any AP course, any IB course |
| Technology | 1/2 Carnegie unit - A course that emphasizes the use of technology as a procuctivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. The application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course. |
Full admission to Mississippi State will be granted to high school graduates who complete the CPC with one of the following:
- A minimum 3.20 grade-point average (GPA) on the CPC.
- A minimum 2.50 GPA on the CPC and a composite score of 16 or higher on the ACT or the equivalent SAT score.
- A minimum 2.0 GPA on the CPC and a composite score of 18 or higher on the ACT or the equivalent SAT score.
- Standing in the top 50 percent of the class and a composite score of 16 or higher on the ACT or the equivalent SAT score.
- Satisfy the National Collegiate Athletic Association standards for student-athletes who are full qualifiers or academic redshirts under Division I guidelines.
Full admission to Mississippi State University for non-residents of Mississippi will be granted to high school graduates who complete the required high school courses with one of the following
- A minimum 2.50 grade-point average, composite score of 20 or higher on the ACT, or the equivalent SAT score; or
- Student-athletes who satisfy the National Collegiate Athletic Association standards and who are full qualifiers or academic redshirts under Division I guidelines are exempt from the above requirement.
Mississippi residents who apply and fail to meet full admission standards as listed above may, as a result of review, be admitted to the fall or summer term, provided that application materials are received prior to the first summer session. The review shall involve a consideration of high school performance, ACT/SAT scores, placement testing, and special interests and skills, as well as other non-academic factors.
Entering freshmen who have both a high school grade-point average of less than 2.5 on the college preparatory curriculum and a composite ACT score of less than 21 will be placed in the undecided major and will be advised by the University Academic Advising Center until 30 credit hours of core classes have been completed.
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). Students with an ACT Math subscore of 18 or lower (or the equivalent SAT score) will be required to take MA 0103 Intermediate Algebra before advancing on to math requirements within the chosen degree program.
A student-athlete must meet the requirements of the Southeastern Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Mississippi State University neither awards credit nor accepts transfer-college-credit based solely on ACT, SAT, or other comparable tests commonly administered to high school students primarily for college admissions purposes. Documents and other proof that students have met the University entrance requirements are kept on file in the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Room 101, Montgomery Hall.
Admission with Deficiencies.
Mississippi residents who apply and have not demonstrated adequate readiness in English or Reading or Mathematics will be granted Full Admission with Academic Deficiencies to the Summer Developmental Program. This is an intensive program that concentrates on high school subject areas (English, Reading, and Mathematics) that are applicable to success in first-year college courses. These remedial courses neither count toward a degree nor are they computed in a student's grade point average. Students who successfully complete the summer program by passing English, developmental Mathematics, developmental Reading and the Learning Skills Laboratory courses will receive admission to the fall term with mandatory participation in the year-long Academic Support Program. Students who fail to successfully complete the Summer Developmental Program are not eligible for enrollment in the regular academic year and will be counseled to explore other post-secondary opportunities, including those offered by community colleges.
Home Schooled.
Home schooled applicants are required to meet the same requirements as other freshman applicants. Official ACT/SAT scores and transcripts (or portfolios) are required.
Special Program for Academically Talented Students (SPATS).
Academically talented students who (a) have finished at least their junior year in high school, as judged by their high school officials, (b) in the judgment of parents and high school administrators are mature enough to profit from college work, and (c) have a standard composite score of 24 on the American College Test, may apply for admission as a SPATS student to earn regular college credit.
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. Information concerning the program and application forms may be obtained at http://www.admissions.msstate.edu or by writing to: SPATS, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, P.O. Box 6334, Mississippi State, MS, 39762.
SPATS students who apply for admission as a full time student for term following their date of high school graduation will be granted a waiver of the admission application fee.
Admission by 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. Applicants who hold an approved high school equivalency exam and who do not meet other requirements for freshman admission may enroll at Mississippi State as transfers after meeting the normal requirements for transfer admission from another regionally accredited institution.
Admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
(See College of Veterinary Medicine section in Part II.)