Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Itta Bena, Mississippi
51.2% Acceptance Rate
Mississippi Valley State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
51.2%Acceptance Rate
2.9Avg GPA
910Avg SAT
16Avg ACT
$21,606Annual Cost
$31,919Grad Salary
59.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
51.2%
Avg GPA
2.9
Avg SAT
910
Avg ACT
16
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
870–940
ACT Middle 50%
14–18
Avg Net Price
$11,812
Need-Based Aid
59.6% receive Pell
Mississippi Valley State University, founded in 1950, is an HBCU located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region. The university is particularly known for its education, criminal justice, and agricultural science programs that serve the needs of the local community.
The 450-acre campus includes the Health Sciences Building with nursing simulation labs, the Business Education Center, and the new $12 million Student Union building. MVSU's small class sizes and strong faculty mentorship create a supportive learning environment for its predominantly first-generation college students.
Mississippi Valley State University Acceptance Rate
At 51.2%, admission to Mississippi Valley State University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What Mississippi Valley State University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 51.2% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.90 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.70 – 2.89
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.45
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Mississippi Valley State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Mississippi Valley State University is December 15 for Spring applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 126 days left — Spring
Spring
December 15
Fall Priority
April 1
Fall Final
August 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Mississippi Valley State University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Mississippi Valley State University is 2.9. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.10–3.30.Mississippi Valley State University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.90 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.70 – 2.89
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.50 – 2.69
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.49
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional; ACT/SAT considered but not required for general admission.
- Full admission requires CGPA, test scores (if submitted), and completion of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC).
- Honors College requires a separate application, personal statement, 20+ ACT (or SAT equivalent), and 3.30 CPC GPA.
- Historically Black public university in Itta Bena, MS; NCAA Division I (SWAC) athletics.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Mississippi Valley State University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Mississippi Valley State University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Mississippi Valley State University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Mississippi Valley State University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Mississippi Valley State University Without SAT or ACT?
Mississippi Valley State University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Mississippi Valley State University Average SAT Score: 910
The average SAT score of admitted students at Mississippi Valley State University is 910 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 910 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (940 SAT or 18 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Mississippi Valley State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 870, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Mississippi Valley State University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 910 | 870 | 940 |
Below 870, you're behind most admitted students; at 940 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 900
Can I get into Mississippi Valley State University with a 950 SAT?
A 950 SAT puts you ahead of most of Mississippi Valley State University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Mississippi Valley State University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Mississippi Valley State University is 16.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 16 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a real advantage.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 16 | 14 | 17 |
| ACT English | 15 | 11 | 18 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 14 | 18 |
Can I get into Mississippi Valley State University with a 18 ACT?
A 18 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Mississippi Valley State University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Mississippi Valley State University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Mississippi Valley State University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Mississippi Valley State University isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Get your junior-year transcript in early to unlock provisional admission
MVSU accepts a transcript through the junior year (with senior courses listed as in-progress) and can grant provisional admission during senior year before your final transcript arrives. Submit that junior-year transcript as soon as it's available rather than waiting for graduation to apply.
Complete the full College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC), not just a generic diploma
Full admission is determined by CGPA, test scores, and specific completion of the CPC course list - a general diploma without the CPC courses can complicate admission even with a decent GPA. Check the exact CPC course list against your high school transcript early in junior year, while there's still time to adjust your schedule.
Aim for the Honors College threshold if you're anywhere close
Honors admission requires a 20 ACT/equivalent SAT with all sub-scores 16+, a 3.30 CPC GPA, and a separate application with a personal statement - it's a real second admissions process layered on top of general admission. If you're within range, apply for Honors at the same time as general admission rather than waiting to see if you're invited.
Send official transcripts by mail, not as unofficial uploads
MVSU explicitly does not accept unofficial transcripts from students directly - only official transcripts mailed by your high school count, and they must show graduation date, GPA, and class rank. Confirm with your school registrar that they're mailing (or electronically sending through an approved service) directly to MVSU's Office of Admission and Recruitment.
Expert Insight:
Because MVSU is test-optional and reported as broadly accessible (acceptance rates cited from roughly 51%-92% depending on the source and year), some applicants under-prepare their transcript paperwork, assuming grades alone will carry them through. The CPC-completion and official-transcript requirements are firm procedural gates that can delay enrollment regardless of GPA.
Mississippi Valley State University Profile
Full Name
Mississippi Valley State University
City
Itta Bena
State
Mississippi
ZIP Code
38941-1400
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Mississippi Valley State University Degree Worth It?
Whether Mississippi Valley State University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $34,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 6.88%.
How much does a degree from Mississippi Valley State University Cost?
The sticker price is $21,606/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $11,812.
59.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 53.9% take federal loans at Mississippi Valley State University. File your FAFSA early and list Mississippi Valley State University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Mississippi Valley State University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $31,919. That's somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Mississippi Valley State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Valley State University | Fort Valley, GA | 864 | 18 |
| Bennett College | Greensboro, NC | 890 | NA |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond, VA | 860 | NA |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | 868 | 16 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Mississippi Valley State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, AR | 916 | 16 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | 913 | 17 |
| Trinity College of Florida | Trinity, FL | 905 | 19 |
| Wesleyan College | Macon, GA | 905 | NA |
| Morningside University | Sioux City, IA | 910 | 17 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Mississippi Valley State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
Degree Programs at Mississippi Valley State University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi Valley State University Admissions
Median earnings for Mississippi Valley State University graduates sit around $31,919 a year.
At about $21,606 a year, Mississippi Valley State University is on the more affordable end.
With 59.6% of Mississippi Valley State University students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong. An early FAFSA filing naming Mississippi Valley State University is the key move.
At 51.2%, Mississippi Valley State University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Mississippi Valley State University average a 2.9 GPA.
Mississippi Valley State University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.6 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.5, Mississippi Valley State University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Mississippi Valley State University — aim above 910, ideally within the 870–940 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Mississippi Valley State University is December 15 for Spring applicants.
The application fee is 25. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 15, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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