Florida State vs. Mississippi State

Should I go to Florida State University or Mississippi State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Florida State or Mississippi State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Florida State University vs. Mississippi State University comparison
Florida State University Mississippi State University College 3 College 4
Florida State University Mississippi State University
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Overview

 Florida State Mississippi State
Location Tallahassee, FL Mississippi State, MS
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 43,234 22,657
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #199 #452
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fsu.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Florida State Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $4,022 $9,665
Tuition (Out of State) $16,540 $26,430
Room & Board $12,740 $12,293
Avg Net Price $14,903 $16,480
Avg Grant Aid $8,731 $13,532
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 96%

Admission

 Florida State Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 74,038 20,877
Admitted 18,793 15,934
Acceptance Rate 25.4% 76.3%
Enrolled % 31.3% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 27/31 21/29
SAT Range 1240/1390 1110/1410
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Florida State Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

 Florida State Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 74% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,400 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,750 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $214 $240

Diversity

 Florida State Mississippi State
% Men 10% 9%
% Women 16% 11%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 72%
% Black 8% 20%
% Hispanic 19% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Florida State Mississippi State
% In-State 83% 55%
% Out-of-State 16% 43%

Campus

 Florida State Mississippi State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida State University is larger than than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (43,234 students vs. 22,657 students)

Florida State vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida State or Mississippi State?

  • Mississippi State University is 140.3% more expensive to attend than Florida State for in-state tuition ($9,665.00 vs. $4,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59.8% higher at Mississippi State than Florida State University ($26,430.00 vs. $16,540.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida State University than Mississippi State ($14,903 vs. $16,480)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 3.6% lower than costs at Florida State University ($12,293 vs. $12,740)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than Florida State University (96% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 55% larger than aid received Florida State University ($13,532 vs. $8,731)

Florida State vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida State or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or Florida State .

  • The average SAT score at Florida State University (1215) is 75 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
  • Incoming Florida State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
  • Accepted freshman Florida State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Florida State (25.4%)

Florida State vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Florida State or Mississippi State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mississippi State and Florida State.

  • The graduation rate at Florida State is higher than Mississippi State University (74% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Florida State University earn on average $3,900 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $47,500)
  • Florida State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi State graduates. ($20,750 vs. $23,250)
  • Florida State graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi State graduates. ($214 vs. $240)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida State students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/