MSU Bulldogs vs Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU)

Mississippi State University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, both public research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Mississippi State, located in Starkville, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate (73%) compared to Southern Illinois' 68%. With a larger student body, Mississippi State offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like engineering, business, and agriculture. Southern Illinois, situated in Carbondale, Illinois, excels in liberal arts and sciences, with notable programs in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice. While Mississippi State's student body is predominantly White (74%), Southern Illinois' student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of African American and Hispanic students. Both universities offer competitive graduation rates, with Mississippi State at 68% and Southern Illinois at 63%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Mississippi State University logo

Mississippi State University

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale logo

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Overview

Location Mississippi State, Mississippi Carbondale, Illinois
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 81.0% 75.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 76.1% 95.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1030 - 1280 930 - 1160
ACT range 21 - 30 20 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 9.0% 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 91.0% 18.0%
Total number of applicants 17,707 6,987
Total number of admissions given out 13,478 6,648
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,388 1,422
Yield rate 25.1% 21.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,460

Out of state: $42,140
$29,903
Average net price $16,175 $15,976
Tuition
In state: $9,110

Out of state: $24,790
$9,638
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,612

Meal plan: $4,200
Room/dormitory: $6,292

Meal plan: $4,330
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $12,948
91.0%
Average amount $13,301
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $5,388
55.0%
Average amount $5,362
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $14,099
8.0%
Average amount $12,619

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,584
Men 49.6% Women 50.4%
8,147
Men 51.4% Women 48.6%
Graduate students 4,502
Men 45.3% Women 54.7%
3,119
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 41.2% 17.5%
International students 3.4% 7.7%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Small
Dormitory capacity 5,333 4,492
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi Tennessee Alabama Georgia Louisiana Illinois Missouri Indiana Tennessee Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Transportation and Logistics
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.7% 45.3%
Dropout rate 38.5% 53.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,348
  • Year 2: $88,527
  • Year 3: $99,184
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,211
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $90,129
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,757
  • Year 2: $74,307
  • Year 3: $82,587
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,632
  • Year 2: $73,852
  • Year 3: $79,309
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,768
  • Year 2: $74,405
  • Year 3: $78,161
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,878
  • Year 2: $69,710
  • Year 3: $76,651
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,741
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $69,725
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,809
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $68,041
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,551
  • Year 2: $58,334
  • Year 3: $66,010
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,870
  • Year 2: $52,733
  • Year 3: $64,799
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,053
  • Year 2: $104,597
  • Year 3: $108,594
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,138
  • Year 2: $65,905
  • Year 3: $75,851
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,097
  • Year 2: $64,068
  • Year 3: $70,959
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,319
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $66,942
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,274
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $66,280
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,465
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $62,788
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,426
  • Year 2: $53,219
  • Year 3: $62,608
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,372
  • Year 2: $55,211
  • Year 3: $62,306
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,213
  • Year 2: $55,061
  • Year 3: $62,169
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,024
  • Year 2: $49,840
  • Year 3: $62,089

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