Non-Resident Requirements | Office of Admissions and Scholarships

Non-Resident Requirements

 

Nonresident Applicants who do not meet the Mississippi criteria are evaluated for admission based on the following:

  • Rigor of high school curriculum
  • ACT or SAT scores (if submitted)

Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as admission is granted on a rolling basis. 

While ACT or SAT scores may not be required to be eligible for admission, they are still important for scholarships, academic placement and other opportunities. 

If a test score is submitted, MSU will superscore (highest ACT or SAT subject test scores from the same test type when scores from more than one test date are submitted.)  A combination of ACT and SAT subtest scores cannot be combined to calculate a superscore.

Applicants who have completed high school from a school that does not hold regional accreditation must submit the following:

  • Transcripts reflecting academic performance
  • ACT or SAT scores

Applicants who have not completed high school must submit the following:

  • Qualifying scores on a state-approved high school equivalency examination
  • ACT or SAT scores

Applicants may be required to appear for an on-campus interview.

To be accepted into the freshman class at Mississippi State University, students must satisfactorily complete the following College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with an appropriate cumulative grade-point average:

English: 4 Carnegie Units

  • Units must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading and Writing may not be included.

Mathematics: 4 Carnegie Units

  • Algebra I or its equivalent 
  • Math higher than Algebra I (2 units) 
  • Additional math higher or lower than Algebra I

Science: 3 Carnegie Units

  • Biology I or its equivalent
  • Science higher than Biology I (2 units) 

Social Studies: 3 Carnegie Units

  • Units must include integrated courses of social sciences and humanities promoting civic competence.

Arts: 1 Carnegie Unit

  • Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two ½ units) of visual and
    performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high
    school graduation.

Advanced Electives: 2 Carnegie Units

  • Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II
  • Option 2: Foreign Language I and one unit from Option 3
  • Option 3: (1) Any combination of an advanced level course above the required Carnegie units in: (a) as noted in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs CPC Manual and/or) any (b) Advanced Placement (AP), Academic or Career and Technical Dual Credit (DC), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) course. (2) Completion of any two-year Career and Technical course may count as one unit. Example: completion of both Health Sciences I & II will count as an advanced elective.

Technology: 1 Carnegie Unit

  • A technology course is defined as one that emphasizes the use of technology as a productivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. The application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course. A computer science course emphasizes computational thinking to solve problems. Courses will involve the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their hardware, and software designs, their applications, and their impact on society and should include a focus on one or more of the following core concepts: computing systems, networks, and the internet, data and analysis, algorithms and programming, and impacts of computing. Course equivalent or additional advanced elective may be acceptable for non-Mississippi residents.

Total Carnegie Units: 18

Notes:

  • Pre-High School Units: Courses taken prior to high school will be accepted for admission provided the course earns Carnegie credit and the content is the same as the high school course. 
  • Substitutions: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB, Academic or Career and Technical Dual Credit (DC) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses may be substituted for each requirement in the College Preparatory Curriculum.
  • Course Acceptance:  A course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement.
  • The Required and Recommended College Preparatory Curricula (CPC) are approved by the IHL Board of Trustees and maintained in the IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Visit www.mississippi.edu/admissions/ for more information.

Home-schooled applicants must submit the following:

  • Home-school transcripts or portfolio summarizing home school education
  • ACT or SAT scores

An applicant who is twenty-one (21) years old and who does not meet the regular freshman admission requirements, may apply for acceptance into the Special Non-Degree (SND) student category. Students in this category will be advised by and will schedule classes through the University Academic Advising Center.

Applicants must demonstrate adequate preparation for the courses they plan to schedule. SND students may schedule a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours during a regular term and three (6) semester hours during a five-week summer term. To move from the SND status, students should satisfactorily complete twelve (12) semester hours with a C or better average in core courses that are applicable to a degree at MSU.

Students wishing to gain reclassification to a traditional major should discuss this during their initial meeting with one of the professional advisors in the University Academic Advising Center. For students admitted to a degree program, a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours of credit earned while in the SND classification may be counted toward a baccalaureate degree, pending approval by the dean of the college or school from which the degree is sought.

Degree-seeking adult applicants with previous college attendance must meet regular transfer student requirements and, therefore, may not apply for admission under the Special Non-Degree option.
Non-degree seeking adult applicants with previous college attendance who do not meet regular transfer requirements may be allowed to schedule courses for self improvement and/or job enhancement only. Applicants should file a letter of intent with the Director of Admissions and Scholarships to enroll under this option.