Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Tennessee Louisville IU Ole Miss UC Auburn Alabama WKU Purdue Ohio State Michigan State Virginia Tech| University of Kentucky | Mississippi State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
| Location | Lexington, KY | Mississippi State, MS | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 31,547 | 22,649 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #408 | #523 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uky.edu | msstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,496 | $9,248 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,913 | $25,294 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,676 | $10,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,693 | $15,364 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,114 | $14,252 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 98% |
Admission |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,109 | 18,830 | ||
| Admitted | 20,979 | 14,158 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.9% | 75.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.9% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.59 | 3.58 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1070/1290 | 1070/1280 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,000 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 62% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,750 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $235 | $240 |
Diversity |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Kentucky | Mississippi State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kentucky is larger than than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 22,649 students)
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or Mississippi State?
- University of Kentucky is 24.3% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 22.2% higher at Kentucky than Mississippi State University ($30,913.00 vs. $25,294.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Kentucky ($15,364 vs. $18,693)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 33.9% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($10,964 vs. $14,676)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than University of Kentucky (98% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 1% larger than aid received University of Kentucky ($14,252 vs. $14,114)
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or Kentucky .
- The average SAT score at University of Kentucky (1143) is 3 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
- Incoming Kentucky students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Mississippi State (25)
- Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
- Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Mississippi State (75.2%)
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
- The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than University of Kentucky (60% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from University of Kentucky earn on average $3,500 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $47,500)
- University of Kentucky students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mississippi State graduates. ($22,750 vs. $23,250)
- Kentucky graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Mississippi State graduates. ($235 vs. $240)
- More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/