Admissions Standards at Mississippi Universities

There are four ways to gain full admission to the eight public universities in Mississippi:

1. Complete the College Prep Curriculum with a 3.2 high school GPA on the CPC; or
2. Complete the College Prep Curriculum with a 2.5 high school GPA or a class rank in the top 50% and a score of 16 ACT/ 750 SAT; or
3. Complete the College Prep Curriculum with a 2.0 high school GPA and a score of 18 ACT / 840 SAT; or
4. Satisfy the NCAA standards for student athletes who are full qualifiers under Division I guidelines

These rules apply to Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern MiIssissippi.

What is the College Prep Curriculum?

English:  (4 units) Courses must require substantial communication skills; including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Mathematics:  (3 units) Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.  A fourth course in a higher-level mathematics is highly recommended.

Science:  (3 units) Biology, Chemistry, Physics or any other science course with comparable content and rigor. One unit from a physical science course with content at that level may serve as an introduction to physics or chemistry.  Two of the courses must be laboratory-based.

Social Studies:  (3 units) United States History, World History (substantial geography component), ½ unit in government, and ½ unit in economics or geography.

Advanced Electives:  (2 units) Foreign Language, World Geography, fourth year of laboratory-based science, or fourth year of mathematics.  One unit must be in foreign language or world geography.

Computer Applications:  (½ unit) This course should include use of application packages, such as word processing and spreadsheets.  The course should also include basic computer terminology and hardware operation.

Eighth Grade Units:  Algebra I or first-year foreign language taken in the eighth grade will be accepted for admission provided course content is the same as the high school course.

Note: Some Federal Financial Aid opportunities may require a rigorous high school curriculum including satisfactory AP scores and/or two years of a foreign language.

What happens if I do not meet all of these criteria for admission?

For students who do not meet all of the requirements for full admission to a university in Mississippi, several options are available.  Students may choose to begin their college coursework at one of the community colleges across the state and transfer to a university after successfully completing basic academic coursework.

Students are also eligible to participate in the Summer Developmental Program, a nine-week intensive academic program including coursework in reading, composition, and mathematics.  The summer program also includes academic counseling and support.  Students who successfully complete the Summer Developmental Program will be fully admitted for the fall semester and are required to participate in the Academic Support Program for freshmen, offering individualized tutoring and career counseling.  The Summer Developmental Program is offered to a limited number of participants at each of the state’s eight public universities.

If you have any questions about planning and financing a college education or selecting a career, please call 800.986.4322 (toll-free) or email us at collegeplanning@esfweb.com. If you wish to visit a College Planning Center, please call for an appointment to ensure that a counselor is available.