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Mississippi State University Out-of-State Resident Scholarship 2027 in USA

Mississippi State University hands its out-of-state academic scholarships to freshmen automatically — no separate form, no essay. If your 9th–11th grade GPA and ACT/SAT scores clear the published bands, the award (worth $12,000 to $24,000 a year for the 2026–27 cycle) lands with your admission, and it renews for up to eight semesters as long as your MSU GPA holds up.

Automatic on admission Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By Mississippi State University
Award
$12,000–$24,000/year (2026–27)3.30–3.59 GPA: $12,000 ($17,000 with 31 ACT/1390 SAT+); 3.60–4.09: $16,000 ($21,000); 4.10+: $19,000 ($24,000). Amounts combine institutional and private aid
Who
Entering first-time freshmenClassified as non-residents for tuition purposes; awarded on 9th–11th grade GPA and official ACT/SAT scores (superscoring accepted)
Renewal
Up to 8 semestersRenewed each fall and spring based on overall MSU GPA; combined awards cannot exceed the non-resident portion of tuition
Bonus
Housing awardStudents with a 34+ ACT (or SAT equivalent) also receive a one-year, on-campus housing scholarship
How to apply
No separate formApply for admission to MSU — the scholarship is automatic. For additional scholarships, file the General Scholarship Application (priority: 1 December)

About the scholarship

Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville, Mississippi — not to be confused with Michigan State, which shares the initials — awards its Out-of-State Resident Scholarships to entering first-time freshmen automatically on admission. There is no separate scholarship application, no essay and no interview: the university reads your high-school GPA (grades 9–11) and your official ACT/SAT scores and slots you into a published award band. The published figures for the 2026–27 cycle run from $12,000 a year (GPA 3.30–3.59) to $24,000 a year (GPA 4.10+ with a 31 ACT/1390 SAT or above). The award renews each fall and spring for up to eight semesters based on your overall MSU GPA.

The university also layers extra value on top: students scoring 34+ on the ACT (or the SAT equivalent) receive a one-year, on-campus housing scholarship, and a separate Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship (up to $5,000/year) exists for non-resident children of MSU alumni. The figures are subject to change — always check the current official schedule before planning.

Eligibility

  • Entering first-time freshman at Mississippi State University, classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes.
  • Minimum 3.30 GPA on the 9th–11th grade high-school record (4.0 scale).
  • Official ACT/SAT scores sent directly to MSU — superscoring is accepted, and the university accepts scores taken through the February test date of your senior year.
  • Higher bands: 31 ACT/1390 SAT and above unlock the top column of each GPA band.
  • Enrol as a full-time student in the semester the award is received; renewal depends on maintaining continuous full-time enrolment and the required MSU GPA.

Benefits

  • $12,000–$24,000 per year (2026–27 figures) applied against out-of-state tuition — renewable for up to 8 semesters.
  • One-year on-campus housing scholarship for 34+ ACT (or SAT-equivalent) scorers, covering the student’s share of a double-occupancy room.
  • Can be combined with some other MSU scholarships and aid, subject to the cap on the non-resident tuition portion.
  • Alumni track: non-resident children of MSU alumni can receive up to $5,000/year through the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship.

Documents required

No separate scholarship documents — the award is automatic. You only need what MSU admission itself requires: official high-school transcripts and official ACT/SAT score reports sent directly to the university. For the alumni track, parent alumni status must be verified by the MSU Office of the Registrar.

How to apply

  1. Apply for admission to Mississippi State University as a first-time freshman — this single step automatically puts you in the scholarship pool.
  2. Send official test scores directly to MSU (scores through the February date of your senior year count; superscores accepted).
  3. For extra awards: submit the General Scholarship Application at my.msstate.edu — the priority date for maximum consideration was 1 December for the 2026 cycle, so check the current date early.
  4. Alumni families: have your parent’s MSU alumni status verified through the Office of the Registrar for the alumni non-resident award.

FAQs

Is there a separate scholarship application?

No. The Freshman Academic Scholarships for non-residents are automatically awarded on admission based on your GPA and test scores. Only the additional (departmental, leadership, private) scholarships need the General Scholarship Application.

Which MSU is this — Michigan or Mississippi?

Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. Michigan State University is a different institution with its own scholarship pages — make sure you are reading msstate.edu sources.

How long does the scholarship last?

It renews each fall and spring for up to eight semesters, as long as you maintain continuous full-time enrolment and the required overall MSU GPA.

What test scores count?

MSU accepts the ACT/SAT through the February test date of your senior year, and superscoring is accepted. A 31 ACT/1390 SAT or above moves you into the higher column of your GPA band; 34+ ACT adds a one-year housing award.

Can international students get it?

The award is for students classified as non-residents for tuition purposes — that includes out-of-state US students. International applicants should confirm their tuition classification with MSU Undergraduate Admissions, since the official schedule is written around domestic non-resident tuition.

Verified 17 Oct 2026 via MSU Admissions’ official 2026–27 out-of-state scholarship PDF (award bands $12,000–$24,000 by GPA × test score; automatic on admission; superscoring; February test-date cutoff; 8-semester renewal; 34+ ACT housing award) and the official sfa.msstate.edu out-of-state freshman page (alumni non-resident award, non-resident tuition waiver, General Scholarship Application priority 1 Dec 2025). Confirmed Mississippi State (msstate.edu), not Michigan State.

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