MSU Bulldogs vs University of West Alabama (UWA)

Mississippi State University and the University of West Alabama, while both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Mississippi State, a public research university, boasts a significantly larger student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to the University of West Alabama, a public liberal arts university. In terms of academic offerings, Mississippi State excels in STEM fields, while the University of West Alabama emphasizes liberal arts and education. Both universities offer a diverse range of extracurricular activities, but Mississippi State's Division I athletics program sets it apart. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two universities, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Mississippi State University logo

Mississippi State University

University of West Alabama logo

University of West Alabama

Overview

Location Mississippi State, Mississippi Livingston, Alabama
Campus setting Town: Remote Rural: Remote
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% 63.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 76.1% 74.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $40
SAT range 1030 - 1280 880 - 980
ACT range 21 - 30 17 - 21
Students submitting SAT score 9.0% 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 91.0% 69.0%
Total number of applicants 17,707 1,539
Total number of admissions given out 13,478 1,144
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,388 351
Yield rate 25.1% 30.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,460

Out of state: $42,140
In state: $22,911

Out of state: $32,011
Average net price $16,175 $15,435
Tuition
In state: $9,110

Out of state: $24,790
In state: $9,100

Out of state: $18,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,612

Meal plan: $4,200
Room/dormitory: $4,760

Meal plan: $2,834
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $12,948
89.0%
Average amount $7,129
Students receiving federal student loan 42.0%
Average amount $5,388
65.0%
Average amount $5,418
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $14,099
3.0%
Average amount $8,357

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,584
Men 49.6% Women 50.4%
2,322
Men 30.6% Women 69.4%
Graduate students 4,502
Men 45.3% Women 54.7%
3,272
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 41.2% N/A
International students 3.4% 2.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Rural: Remote
Dormitory capacity 5,333 1,019
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 N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Business
  • Agriculture
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.7% 39.1%
Dropout rate 38.5% 21.5%
Transferred out N/A 36.0%
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
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,363
  • Year 2: $61,681
  • Year 3: $64,667
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,130
  • Year 2: $53,942
  • Year 3: $55,799
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,682
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $54,452
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,975
  • Year 2: $48,510
  • Year 3: $51,622
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,470
  • Year 2: $46,380
  • Year 3: $48,647
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,701
  • Year 2: $46,261
  • Year 3: $47,958
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,803
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $47,734
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,054
  • Year 3: $35,960
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,711
  • Year 3: N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,983
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A

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