Mississippi State SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 14, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1100 to 1350
Half of enrolled students at Mississippi State scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1350, and one quarter below 1100.
- Average composite
- 1219
- Acceptance rate
- 77.6%
- ACT range
- 21 to 29
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Mississippi State, MS
- Undergraduates
- 18,397
Mississippi State SAT Scores and Admissions
The middle 50 for Mississippi State SAT scores splits into 560 to 670 on Reading and Writing and 540 to 680 on Math, with a composite range of 1100 to 1350 and an average of 1219. Half of admitted students land inside those ranges, 1 out of 4 falls below, and 1 out of 4 scores above. Math stretches wider at both ends, 20 points lower at the floor and 10 points higher at the ceiling, which tells you strong quant scores stand out here more than strong reading scores do.
Mississippi State University admits 77.6% of applicants. In plain terms, about 78 of every 100 students who apply get an offer, so most applicants with a solid record get in. It is a public university of 18,397 students in Mississippi State, MS, and every number on this page comes from the 2024 to 2025 cycle. Testing is optional, which means the school will read your file without a score if you leave one out. But optional cuts both ways. A score at or above the 1219 average still does real work in an application, and skipping the test removes one of the easiest ways to stand out. The ACT middle 50 runs 21 to 29 if you are deciding between tests.
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Mississippi State SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Mississippi State, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 560 | 670 |
| Math | 540 | 680 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1100 | 1350 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1100 to 1350
Mississippi State Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Mississippi State, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Mississippi State's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Mississippi State by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Mississippi State, based on its reported 1100 to 1350 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 950 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 950 is well below the 1100 to 1350 range at Mississippi State. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1050 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1050 falls just short of Mississippi State's 25th percentile of 1100. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1230 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1230 sits inside the 1100 to 1350 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1350 | At the 75th percentile | A 1350 matches the 75th percentile at Mississippi State, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1380 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1380 beats the 75th percentile at Mississippi State. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Mississippi State's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1100, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1350, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1100 | To reach 1350 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +100 points | +350 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | Already there | +250 points | 1100 to 1400 plan |
| 1200 | Already there | +150 points | 1200 to 1400 plan |
| 1300 | Already there | +50 points | 1300 to 1400 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Mississippi State?
Scoring below 1100 puts you in the bottom 1 out of 4 of admitted students. With a 77.6% acceptance rate that is not fatal, but the rest of your application has to carry more weight, and the score stops helping you. Anywhere from 1100 to 1350 means you look like a typical admit, and the closer you sit to the 1219 average, the more ordinary your score reads in a good way. Ordinary is fine here. It moves the question to your grades and activities without raising any flags.
Above 1350 puts you in the top quarter of admits, which matters more for merit aid than for admission itself. At a school that says yes to about 78 of every 100 applicants, a high score is less about getting in and more about what the offer includes.
On sections, Reading and Writing sets the higher floor: the 25th percentile is 560 against Math's 540. Math sets the higher ceiling at 680, so a Math score of 700 or more clears what most admits post. If your two sections are lopsided, that pattern tells you which one to lean on and which one to fix.
Mississippi State GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Mississippi State typically carry an unweighted GPA somewhere around 3.0 to 3.5. That band is wide because a 77.6% acceptance rate leaves room for many kinds of transcripts, from steady B students to straight A applicants aiming for scholarships. A school that admits about 3 out of 4 applicants does not draw one hard GPA line and hold it.
The number on your transcript is only half the story. A 3.3 earned in AP or honors sections reads better than a 3.5 built on the easiest schedule available, because course choice shows how you handle harder work before anyone asks you to. Grade trend matters too. A transcript that climbs from sophomore year to senior year tells a better story than one that slides, even if both average out the same.
If your GPA sits near the bottom of that band, the fastest fix is a strong SAT. A score at or above the 1219 average gives the admissions office a second data point that says you can handle college work, and unlike your GPA, it is a number you can still move.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Mississippi State typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Mississippi State SAT Testing Policy
Mississippi State considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1225, the middle of Mississippi State's range. If you are below 1100, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 14, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Mississippi State?
Mississippi State was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1230+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1100 to 1230
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1100
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Mississippi State. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Mississippi State's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
Mississippi State ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at Mississippi State scored between 21 and 29 on the ACT, alongside the 1100 to 1350 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, Mississippi State states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 29 | 1330 to 1350 |
| 28 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 |
| 26 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside Mississippi State's ACT middle 50 percent.
How to Get Into Mississippi State
Aim for 1100 first. That is the 25th percentile, and it keeps you inside the range where half of Mississippi State admits score. From there, work toward the 1219 average, which puts you squarely in the middle of the admitted class. If you want the top quarter, the target is 1350 or higher, which is also where competitive merit scholarship numbers tend to start.
Per section, plan on at least 560 in Reading and Writing and 540 in Math, and treat 670 and 680, the 75th percentile marks, as the numbers that separate you from most admits. Because testing is optional, your working rule is simple: send a score at or above the 1219 average, and think hard before sending one well under 1100.
Our score plans break down how many points per section a given target requires. Before you build a study schedule, take a 20 question diagnostic to see where you stand against these numbers. Do that this week, then set your target from your real baseline instead of a guess.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Mississippi State?
Mississippi State admits about 776 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 18,397. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 224 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Mississippi State's 25th percentile score of 1100 already beats roughly 58% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1350 sits around the 91th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Mississippi State: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Mississippi State, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Mississippi State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 1100 to 1350 | 77.6% | This page |
| South Florida | 1130 to 1320 | 43.2% | Harder to get into than Mississippi Statesimilar SAT range |
| Belhaven | 1010 to 1298 | 49.8% | Harder to get into than Mississippi StateSAT about 71 lower |
| College of Charleston | 1140 to 1310 | 60.0% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| North Carolina Wilmington | 1230 to 1340 | 64.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 higher |
| UT Dallas | 1160 to 1410 | 65.1% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 higher |
| Catawba | 1030 to 1300 | 75.2% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
How Recent Are These Mississippi State SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 14, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Mississippi State disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Mississippi State's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Mississippi State SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Mississippi State?
Mississippi State's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1100 to 1350. Aim for at least 1100 to be competitive, and 1350 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1100 a good SAT score for Mississippi State?
A 1100 sits at Mississippi State's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1100 to 1350. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1350 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Mississippi State?
The average composite SAT score at Mississippi State is 1219. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1100 and 1350.
Does Mississippi State require SAT scores?
No. Mississippi State was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Mississippi State test optional for 2026-2027?
Mississippi State was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for Mississippi State?
Mississippi State's middle 50 percent ACT range is 21 to 29. Aim for at least 21 to be competitive and 29 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at Mississippi State.
What GPA do you need to get into Mississippi State?
Admitted students at Mississippi State typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Mississippi State's acceptance rate?
Mississippi State admits about 77.6% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Mississippi State?
Mississippi State admits about 77.6% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1100 to 1350 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1350 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Mississippi State's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Mississippi State?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Mississippi State superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Mississippi State does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 14, 2026.
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