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Mississippi State University

#165 in US ranking Mississippi State, MS
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Mississippi State University award
Mississippi State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$30,713
Tuition & fees
$10,604
Avg. aid
$12,314
Receiving aid
97%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
78%
SAT range
1100–1350
ACT range
21–29

Outcomes

Graduation rate
67%
Median salary
$44,961
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at Mississippi State University?

Mississippi State's reported six-year graduation rate is 67% for the measured first-time, full-time undergraduate cohort. Its four-year rate is 46%. These figures track how many students in the defined entering cohort completed within each period; they are not a prediction for an individual student or a completion rate for every transfer, part-time or graduate student.

The reported first-year retention rate is 83%, meaning that most students in the measured first-time cohort returned for the following year. The gap between the four- and six-year graduation rates also shows why time to degree matters financially: a student planning a four-year budget should examine their major's course sequence, prerequisites and likely credit load rather than assuming the university-wide rate describes their own path.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Mississippi State University?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures report earnings measured about one year after completion for qualifying students in specific programs. They are historical outcomes for measured groups, not starting-salary offers or guarantees for future graduates.

In the figures available in October 2026, reported one-year earnings included approximately $70,757 for chemical engineering and $57,870 for computer and information sciences. The corresponding figure for business administration and management was about $35,222. Differences can reflect occupation, location, further study, the measured cohort and other factors; comparing these numbers without that context can be misleading.

Program earnings data cover only students who meet the federal data set's reporting criteria, and some program figures are suppressed when reporting rules do not permit publication. Earnings measured shortly after completion also cannot capture an entire career. Applicants weighing a major should pair these figures with program costs, likely occupations, internship access and any additional education required for their goals.

Mississippi State University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
67%
4-year graduation
46%
6-year graduation
67%

Mississippi State University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
83%
First-year retention, part-time students
47%
Employed 1 year after graduation
98%

Mississippi State University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$44,961
4 years after graduation
$59,311
5 years after graduation
$60,074
7 years after graduation
$64,341
10 years after starting college
$54,296

Alumni Salary for Mississippi State University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Accounting and Related Services

$40,087

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

$54,741

Agricultural Business and Management

$40,038

Agricultural Production Operations

$40,436

Animal Sciences

$28,700

Architecture

$51,686

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

$21,888

Biology, General

$22,403

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

$39,300

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$35,222

Chemical Engineering

$70,757

Civil Engineering

$56,809

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

$25,664

Communication and Media Studies

$30,675

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$57,870

Construction Management

$60,051

Criminology

$25,300

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

$69,768

Engineering, Other

$61,549

English Language and Literature, General

$26,295

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

$27,791

Finance and Financial Management Services

$40,559

Food Science and Technology

$28,591

Forestry

$41,301

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

$33,126

History

$24,390

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

$19,828

Industrial Engineering

$63,878

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians

$52,232

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

$30,100

Management Information Systems and Services

$51,062

Marketing

$37,616

Mechanical Engineering

$67,632

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

$19,886

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

$26,291

Plant Sciences

$35,464

Political Science and Government

$25,570

Psychology, General

$24,831

Social Work

$26,918

Special Education and Teaching

$34,610

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

$27,480

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

$34,126

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

$36,213

Visual and Performing Arts, General

$25,314

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

$27,924

Mississippi State University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

349500849

Engineering

142530672

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

200128328

Education

27449323

Psychology

26750317

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields

167105272

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

141102243

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

17153224

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

9044134

Social Sciences

8045125

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

142174316

Education

23157288

Engineering

4885133

Physical Sciences

374279

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields

303262

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

322254

Psychology

43447

Natural Resources and Conservation

192544

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

12627

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

15621

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Engineering

134053

Education

16824

Physical Sciences

91120

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields

7613

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

5611

Natural Resources and Conservation

549

Psychology

538

Social Sciences

628

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

336

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

426

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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