How to Apply to Computer Science at Mississippi State: Five Concentrations in the Bagley College’s BS in Computer Science, Engineering Freshman Admission Standards and Calculus Placement, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Mississippi State University (MSU), undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, on the main campus in Starkville. Here is what you need to know, based on the university’s website, for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and concentrations

• Undergraduate degrees in the department: BS in Artificial Intelligence, BS in Computer Science, BS in Software Engineering, BS in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, and a BS in Computer Engineering offered with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• BS in Computer Science: accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. The 2026-27 catalog requires 128 hours in total; to graduate you need a C average in all MSU computer science and engineering courses attempted.
• Five concentrations: General, Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Science, and Human and Visual Computing. The General concentration has 27 hours of technical electives and 11 hours of free electives, with at least 18 hours of concentration courses and technical electives from upper-level CSE courses.
• Major core: Introduction to CSE, Introduction to Computer Programming, Intermediate Computer Programming, Methods and Tools in Software Development, Data Structures and Analysis of Algorithms, Discrete Structures, Systems Programming, Computer Organization, Ethical and Legal Issues in Computing, Theory and Implementation of Programming Languages, Operating Systems I, Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms, and Professional Experience in Computing, plus Professional Communication for Engineers.
• Math and science: Calculus I and II and linear algebra, plus one of Calculus III, Foundations of Mathematics, Graph Theory or Number Theory; one statistics course; Chemistry I with lab, plus another lab science and a natural science elective.
• Prerequisite grades: many courses need a C or better in their prerequisites; for example, Intermediate Computer Programming needs a C or better in Introduction to Computer Programming.
• AP credit: a 3 or higher on AP Computer Science Principles earns 3 hours (CSE 1013).
• Accelerated BS/MS: BS CS or SE students can count up to 9 graduate credits toward both degrees; the department says a typical student can finish the MS in Computer Science in four academic years plus one calendar year.

2. Admission

• University admission: rolling. The freshman page says non-residents must meet the Mississippi criteria plus a minimum 2.50 GPA, or an ACT or SAT score of 20 or above if the GPA is not met. The international page says ACT 20 or SAT 1030 is needed if your GPA is below 3.0 on MSU’s evaluation or if you apply for scholarships. The thresholds are written differently; both are listed.
• Entering Engineering directly: the catalog says freshmen must be admitted to MSU, complete the high school academic core (4 units of English; 4 of math including algebra, geometry and trigonometry; 3 of science including chemistry and either biology or physics; 3 of social studies and/or foreign languages; 2 of electives) and meet any one of:
  • ACT composite 23 or higher, or SAT 1130 or higher;
  • ACT 20, 21 or 22, or SAT 1030–1120, with a high school core GPA of 3.0 or higher;
  • any ACT or SAT score with a high school core GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• If you don’t meet these: students admitted to MSU who want engineering but don’t meet the standards join the Undeclared major, are advised by the Center for Advising for their first 30 hours, and must take an appropriate math course every semester. Applicants with justifiable circumstances may petition the Dean of Engineering.
• Calculus placement: Calculus I requires ACT Math 26 or higher, or C or better in both College Algebra and Trigonometry, or C or better in Precalculus; ACT Math 24 places you in Precalculus and ACT Math 19 in College Algebra. Students not ready for Calculus I take preparatory math first, which can delay some engineering courses.
• Internal transfer: Undeclared and other MSU students may move into an engineering degree program by meeting the freshman engineering standards, or by completing at least 30 hours with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a C or better in Calculus I, English Composition I and Chemistry I. Talk to the department head or program coordinator before filing a Change of Major form; some departments have extra requirements.

3. Dates and materials (international freshmen)

• Application: online, with a non-refundable international fee of USD 60.
• Dates: rolling admission; summer and fall applications open August 1 and spring applications August 5, and stay open until the 10th day of classes. Most decisions come 2–3 weeks after all materials arrive. The international page does not list a separate deadline.
• Materials: certified, translated transcripts, mark sheets and diplomas sent by your school; MSU recommends a course-by-course evaluation with GPA calculation from a NACES member, preferably TEC or MyIEE; English scores; ACT/SAT if your GPA is below 3.0 or you apply for scholarships. After admission, follow the International Institute’s further requirements.
• Tests: the freshman page says ACT/SAT is optional for admission but encouraged for scholarships; MSU superscores the ACT (3-part, without Science) and the SAT, but not across the two tests.

4. English requirements

• University minimum: TOEFL 71, IELTS 6.0, ACT English 19, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 510, or Duolingo 105; some departments require more.
• Engineering: the admissions office’s requirements-by-college table lists TOEFL 79 and IELTS 6.5 for all Engineering majors. The Bagley College catalog page still states an older paper-based TOEFL 550 or computer-based 213.
• Exemptions: citizens of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and other listed countries are automatically exempt; so are freshmen who completed at least two years at, and graduated from, an accredited US high school with at least a C in English (reviewed under domestic standards). Students who don’t meet the requirement enroll in the English Language Institute (ELI) first.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: the website does not say how Gaokao results are used; contact admissions (admit@msstate.edu).
• Grades: send certified translations of transcripts and diplomas, ideally with a NACES-member course evaluation. Engineering looks at your high school core GPA; math must reach trigonometry and science must include chemistry.
• A-Level and IB: the freshman page says AP, IB, AICE (Cambridge International) and dual-credit courses may substitute for each College Preparatory Curriculum requirement; specific A-Level or IB scores are not published.
• AP: a 3 or higher on AP Computer Science Principles earns credit.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• Canadian citizens are exempt from English tests; if you are not a Canadian citizen, check whether your own citizenship is on the list.
• Grade requirements for the BC curriculum are not published; applications are reviewed against Engineering’s core GPA and test-score standards.

7. Transfer students

• Into MSU (international transfer): meet any one of: one year of successful study at a foreign university plus appropriate English scores; the freshman requirements plus a 2.0 GPA on all college courses and English scores; or 30 transferable hours from a regionally accredited US college with a 2.0 GPA. Foreign credentials need a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES member.
• Into Engineering: meet the freshman engineering standards, or complete at least 30 hours with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and C or better in equivalents of Calculus I, English Composition I and Chemistry I; applicants with justifiable circumstances may petition the Dean.
• The admissions office’s transfer page was unavailable when we visited; check the website for transfer deadlines and other details.

8. Costs and scholarships

• Starkville main campus, 2026-2027 (out-of-state, on campus): tuition USD 29,836, fees about USD 250, food USD 5,210 and housing USD 9,990, for direct costs of USD 45,286; books USD 1,200, personal USD 3,804 and transportation USD 3,132; total about USD 53,422. A separate international cost table is not published on the pages we read, and some colleges charge additional college fees.
• Scholarships: the freshman page says test scores are used for scholarship review; the scholarship pages were unavailable when we visited, so international scholarship amounts and criteria are not covered here. Ask admissions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply soon after the August 1 opening to leave time for the visa
• Prepare TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5 (Engineering)
• To enter Engineering directly: ACT 23 / SAT 1130, or a test score with a 3.0 / 3.5 core GPA; take math through trigonometry and take chemistry
• Ask admissions whether Gaokao results can be used

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Canadian citizens are exempt from English tests; prepare test scores for the Engineering standards

Transfer students:

• 30 hours with a 2.0 GPA and a C or better in Calculus I, English Composition I and Chemistry I

Sources: Mississippi State University, CSE undergraduate education; BS in Computer Science; Catalog: Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Catalog: Bagley College of Engineering; Freshman admissions; International admissions; TOEFL/IELTS requirements by college; Cost of attendance. The catalog is for 2026-27 and costs are for 2026-2027; check the Mississippi State website for the latest.