Admissions

Prospective students are encouraged to take as many courses in mathematics, science, English, social studies, and foreign languages as possible in high school. A unit of computer aided graphics is recommended for engineering students and at least one-half unit of keyboarding and one-half unit of computer programming are recommended.

The level of high school preparation needed to be successful in an engineering or computer science degree program as measured by ACT or SAT scores and high school academic core grade point average has been identified. The following guidelines are established to help high school students understand the level of preparation required for engineering and computer science. In addition, these guidelines are established to help MSU students who want to pursue engineering or computer science, but are at risk, get the preparatory background necessary for success.

Undergraduates Only: Click here to following the link maintained by the Office of Admissions at Mississippi State University.

New Freshmen Admission

For regular admission to one of the College of Engineering's degree granting programs as a freshman, you must be admitted to Mississippi State University, complete the following high school academic core: 4 units of English, 4 units of mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry), 3 units of science (chemistry and either biology or physics), 3 units of social studies and/or foreign languages and 2 units of electives, and meet any one of the following criteria:

  • Have a composite score greater than or equal to 23 on the ACT or 1130 on the SAT
  • Have a composite score of 20, 21, or 22 on the ACT or between 1030 and 1120 on the SAT with a high school GPA of 3.0 or greater on the academic courses listed above
  • Have any ACT or SAT with a high school GPA of 3.5 or greater on academic courses listed above.

These criteria are essential for the success of a student beginning an engineering or computer science curriculum at the level shown in the following pages of the Bulletin.

Applicants with justifiable circumstances may petition the Dean of Engineering for special admission.

New freshmen applicants who do not meet these requirements, are otherwise admitted to Mississippi State University, and want to pursue an engineering degree should join the undeclared major with a pre-engineering concentration. These students will be advised for the first 30 hours by the University Advising Center. Students in the pre-engineering concentration will also be assigned a mentor from the engineering faculty.

Students with coursework deficiencies will be required to schedule preparatory coursework. This coursework will be in addition to that shown in the engineering and computer science curricula and will, in general extend the time to graduation.

Internal Transfers

Students in the pre-engineering concentration and other students at Mississippi State University may transfer into an engineering degree granting program if they satisfy any one of the following criteria:

  • Meet engineering new freshmen requirements listed above
  • Have completed at least 30 hours with a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00 and passed Calculus I (MA 1713), English Composition I (EN 1103), and Fundamentals of Chemistry (CH 1213) with grades of C or better.

Internal transfer students should discuss the transfer with the appropriate department head or program coordinator before completing the Change of Major form. Some departments have additional admission requirements for internal transfers.

Students admitted to one engineering or computer science degree program may transfer to another engineering or computer science program at any time so long as they meet departmental transfer requirements.

External Transfers

Students may transfer from other colleges or universities into Mississippi State University engineering degree programs if they meet all requirements to transfer to Mississippi State University and satisfy any one of the following criteria:

  • Meet engineering new freshmen admission standards listed above.
  • Have completed at least 30 hours with a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00 and passed courses equivalent to Calculus I (MA 1713), English Composition I (EN 1103), and Fundamentals of Chemistry I (CH 1213) with grades of C or better.

Applicants with justifiable circumstances may petition the Dean of Engineering for special admission.

Coursework taken elsewhere will not be applied toward a degree in the College of Engineering until it is determined that it is equivalent to required coursework or is an acceptable substitute. No more than one-half of the hours of an engineering or computer science curriculum may be transferred from a two-year community or junior college.

International

For admission to undergraduate programs, international students must earn a minimum paper-based TOEFL score of 550 or a computer-based minimum score of 213.

More Information

For more information on the undergraduate education provided by the Mississippi State University James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, please contact our Admissions Coordinator:

Marleigh Robinson
mrobinson@bagley.msstate.edu
662.325.7182