Mississippi State University

mississippi state university accreditation

Degree Programs Offered at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University appears in our ranking of 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.

Mississippi State University is one of the nation’s best public colleges. It offers a number of majors for undergrads and concentrations that let them customize the programs they choose. Those majoring in agricultural engineering technology and business can pick concentrations in enterprise management, precision agriculture, natural resources, and environmental management or surveying and geomatics. Concentrations in agribusiness management, agribusiness production, and agribusiness policy and law are available for those in the university’s agribusiness program. The food science, nutrition and health promotion also offer concentrations in fields such as food science and food safety.

The university offers one of the only poultry science programs in the nation. Designed for future veterinarians, this program has accreditation and offers concentrations in applied poultry management and science and pre-science veterinary science. Those who major in fashion design and merchandising can select from two concentrations: general merchandising or design and product development. The university offers a communication program that lets students focus their studies on journalism, broadcasting, public relations, theater or communication studies. There are also multiple education programs available that prepare students for becoming teachers and getting their licenses. These programs include majors in elementary education, secondary education, and special education.

Graduate students will find programs available through the Mississippi State University Graduate School too. Many programs give students the choice between online and traditional enrollment and let them study in multiple departments. The university’s graduate accounting program meets the minimum credit hours needed to sit for the Mississippi CPA exam, but there’s also a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with an accounting concentration. An agricultural sciences major focuses more on farm sciences and includes concentrations in animal nutrition, poultry science, and engineering technology. Some of the other majors at Mississippi State University for graduate students include biological engineering, counselor education, forest resources, engineering, management, secondary education, and project management.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University is the shortened name of the Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science. It also uses the names Mississippi State and MSU. Established in 1878 as Mississippi A&M, it was the first agricultural and mechanical college in the state. It would grow much faster in the early part of the 20th century after becoming Mississippi State College and developing a graduate school. The graduate school also changed in the coming years as it introduced new doctoral programs. Named MSU after gaining university recognition, it now has full accreditation and offers programs with hands-on learning options. Students in the agribusiness and agricultural programs can work on local farms, while business majors can work for local companies.

MSU consists of a head campus in Starkville and several regional study and learning centers. Those centers allow students to work on their degrees and complete some or all of their requirements without attending classes on the main campus. There are several online MSU programs available too. Ranked at number 77 on the Washington Monthly list of America’s top colleges, it ranked number 157 on the U.S. News and World Report list. USNWR also ranks MSU on its list of the best graduate programs in veterinary science and engineering. The main campus in the MSU system has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students.

Mississippi State University Accreditation Details

Some of the accreditation that MSU holds comes from organizations that include:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • American Veterinary Medicine Association
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

The university’s graduate psychology programs have APA accreditation too. MSU also has the accreditation that lets it accepts credits earned at other institutions and provide financial aid to its students. That is the regional accreditation that university has from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Mississippi State University Application Requirements

Future MSU Bull Dog undergrads can either submit the university’s online application or use the Common Application, which uses just one account and makes it easier for students to apply to multiple colleges. Students with a high school GPA of 2.5 to 3.0 need to score at least 16 on the ACT. The minimum test score required drops to 18 for those with a GPA of 2.0 to 2.5. Students with a GPA of 3.0 and above do not need to have a minimum test score. MSU requires that future undergrads pay a $40 application fee and submit transcripts to show that they took four English, three math life science and social science and two elective classes.

Most of the graduate programs offered by MSU have the same application requirements. Students will submit the MSU application and make sure that they selected the right program on the application and that they listed background information, including a social security number, date of birth and full name. They will need to provide transcripts from any schools they attended beyond the high school level and a score from the general portion of the GRE. MSU also requires a statement of purpose and a resume as well as three letters of recommendation. Students should make sure that their references can speak to either their professional or academic experience.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time MSU undergrads pay $4,325 per semester for tuition and fees, while half-time undergrads pay $2,163 each semester. Students also pay a room and board total of around $5,000 every semester. Graduate students face similar rates and pay $4,325 in tuition and fees each semester for full-time enrollment. MSU charges lower rates on the other campuses that are part of its system. Students can check with those individual campuses to determine their costs.

Most prospective MSU students will apply for financial aid with the FAFSA to get aid from different branches of the government. Mississippi residents can qualify for the Mississippi Promise award, which goes to students who have a GPA of at least 3.0 and a minimum ACT score of 18. They must also have a household income of $32,000 or less. It covers the total cost of attendance at MSU minus any other financial aid the student receives. A scholarship worth $1,000 or more goes to any undergrad with a GPA of at least 1,000 and a minimum 20 score on the ACT. Mississippi State University can help any student afford the cost of enrolling in its degree programs through aid packages that include institutional and government aid.