Mississippi State vs. South Carolina State University

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

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
Location Mississippi State, MS Orangeburg, SC
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 22,657 3,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #452 #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website msstate.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $9,665 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $26,430 $20,218
Room & Board $12,293 $9,000
Avg Net Price $16,480 $17,928
Avg Grant Aid $13,532 $12,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 94%

Admission

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,877 9,830
Admitted 15,934 8,034
Acceptance Rate 76.3% 81.7%
Enrolled % 23.5% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.58 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Difficult Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 15/19
SAT Range 1110/1410 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Jul 31, 2026

Academics

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 60% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $240 $343

Diversity

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
% Men 9% 3%
% Women 11% 6%
Racial Diversity Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 2%
% Black 20% 96%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Mississippi State South Carolina State University
% In-State 55% 73%
% Out-of-State 43% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (22,657 students vs. 3,041 students)

Mississippi State vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or South Carolina State University?

  • Mississippi State University is 1.4% more expensive to attend than South Carolina State University for in-state tuition ($9,665.00 vs. $9,528.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.7% higher at Mississippi State than South Carolina State University ($26,430.00 vs. $20,218.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than South Carolina State University ($16,480 vs. $17,928)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 36.6% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($9,000 vs. $12,293)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than South Carolina State University (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 11.6% larger than aid received South Carolina State University ($13,532 vs. $12,130)

Mississippi State vs. South Carolina State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 380 points higher than at South Carolina State University (760)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at South Carolina State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at South Carolina State University (3.17)
  • South Carolina State University has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than Mississippi State (76.3%)

Mississippi State vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mississippi State or South Carolina State 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 South Carolina State University and Mississippi State.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than South Carolina State University (60% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $16,500 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $31,000)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $9,955 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $33,205)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($240 vs. $343)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 27%)

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