Mississippi State University is a public land-grant research university in Starkville, Mississippi. It is best known for engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, unmanned aircraft research, architecture and business, with an FAA test site and one of the largest supercomputers at a US university. Choose it for an engineering or agriculture degree at low cost in a friendly college town.
Starkville, United States
Official website: msstate.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
Leads the FAA's Center of Excellence for unmanned aircraft systems
Top 50 in the US for agricultural research funding
$25,000 – $28,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$11,000 – $14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on msstate.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Industrial and Systems Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Aerospace Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Bagley College of Engineering — the largest engineering college in Mississippi.
Raspet Flight Research Laboratory — a leading centre for unmanned aircraft testing.
College of Veterinary Medicine — one of about 30 accredited vet schools in the US.
Cowbells — a game-day tradition at Davis Wade Stadium in the SEC.
Graduates join Nissan, Toyota, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Ingalls Shipbuilding and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 65,000-75,000.
Agriculture and veterinary graduates work across the US farming and animal health sectors.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 4,200-acre campus spreads east of Starkville, with the Drill Field at its centre surrounded by the library and academic halls, the engineering complex to the east and residence halls nearby.
Starkville is a small college town of about 25,000 people with very low rent and a warm climate. Memphis, Birmingham and Jackson are each about two to three hours away by car.
Form I-20 issued by Mississippi State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering master's closing between 1 March and 1 July for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and the MBA, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Institute issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial and systems engineering and the MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on grades and test scores when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are widely available in engineering and agriculture and usually include a tuition waiver.
