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Auburn Alabama Kentucky Clemson Ole Miss UofSC Florida State ASU IU JMU Georgia UTC| Mississippi State University | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
| Location | Mississippi State, MS | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 22,649 | 33,805 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #523 | #232 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | msstate.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,248 | $11,332 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,294 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,964 | $12,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,364 | $21,880 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,252 | $10,593 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 88% |
Admission |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,830 | 36,290 | ||
| Admitted | 14,158 | 24,826 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.2% | 68.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.8% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.58 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/29 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1280 | 1170/1330 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,500 | $56,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $206 |
Diversity |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 20% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Mississippi State | Tennessee | ||
| 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
- The University of Tennessee is larger than than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 22,649 students)
Mississippi State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mississippi State or Tennessee?
- The University of Tennessee is 22.5% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Tennessee than Mississippi State University ($29,522.00 vs. $25,294.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Tennessee ($15,364 vs. $21,880)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 10.8% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee ($10,964 vs. $12,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than The University of Tennessee (98% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 34.5% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($14,252 vs. $10,593)
Mississippi State vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mississippi State or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or Mississippi State .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 74 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
- Incoming Tennessee students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
- Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
- Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Tennessee (68.4%)
Mississippi State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mississippi State or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and Mississippi State.
- The graduation rate at Tennessee is higher than Mississippi State University (63% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $8,800 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $47,500)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,250)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi State graduates. ($206 vs. $240)
- More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/