Mississippi State vs. OU

Comparable Facts

Compare Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS with University of Oklahoma Norman Campus in Norman, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than Mississippi State based on total student enrollment (30,851 students vs. 23,150 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, MS (Rural Fringe setting); University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting).
• Mississippi State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mississippi State University 16:1; University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 5.3% lower than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($12,902 vs. $13,630).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Mississippi State than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (about $260 more per year; $27,637 vs. $27,377).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at Mississippi State University (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 22% larger than aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students ($13,852 vs. $11,356).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at OU than at Mississippi State (26 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Mississippi State and OU.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mississippi State Aug 1, 2027; OU Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at OU average a 3.66 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at Mississippi State (3.58).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.8% at Mississippi State vs. 29.3% at OU.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Mississippi State graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mississippi State graduates ($206 vs. $240).
• More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.