Mississippi State vs. Fisk University

Should I go to Mississippi State University or Fisk University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mississippi State or Fisk University 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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Mississippi State University vs. Fisk University comparison
Mississippi State University Fisk University College 3 College 4
Mississippi State University Fisk University
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Overview

Mississippi State Fisk University
Location Mississippi State, MS Nashville, TN
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 22,657 1,005
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #452 #600
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msstate.edu fisk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mississippi State Fisk University
Tuition (In State) $9,665 $22,320
Tuition (Out of State) $26,430 $22,320
Room & Board $12,293 $11,698
Avg Net Price $16,480 $19,836
Avg Grant Aid $13,532 $20,400
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 96%

Admission

Mississippi State Fisk University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,877 7,982
Admitted 15,934 4,622
Acceptance Rate 76.3% 57.9%
Enrolled % 23.5% 6.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 20/25
SAT Range 1110/1410 1160/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Mississippi State Fisk University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (17%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Physical Sciences (9%)

Outcomes

Mississippi State Fisk University
Graduation Rate 60% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $35,900
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $268

Diversity

Mississippi State Fisk University
% Men 9% 1%
% Women 11% 4%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 1%
% Black 20% 88%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 6%

Students

Mississippi State Fisk University
% In-State 55% 30%
% Out-of-State 43% 57%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Fisk University based on total student enrollment (22,657 students vs. 1,005 students)

Mississippi State vs. Fisk University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or Fisk University?

  • Fisk University is 130.9% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($22,320.00 vs. $9,665.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at Mississippi State than Fisk University ($26,430.00 vs. $22,320.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Fisk University ($16,480 vs. $19,836)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisk University are 5.1% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($11,698 vs. $12,293)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University as Fisk University (96% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fisk University students is 50.8% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($20,400 vs. $13,532)

Mississippi State vs. Fisk University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 203 points higher than at Fisk University (937)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Fisk University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Fisk University (3.1)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Fisk University (57.9%)

Mississippi State vs. Fisk University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mississippi State or Fisk University? 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 Fisk University and Mississippi State.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Fisk University (60% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $11,600 more per year than Fisk University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $35,900)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Fisk University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Fisk University graduates. ($240 vs. $268)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisk University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 38%)

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