University of Mississippi

Public · Moderately Selective · MS

Photo: Cturk26 (CC0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMS · South

SettingRural

Undergrads21,473

Student:faculty18:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate57.3%

6-yr grad rate71.7%

Drop-out rate12.8%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$29k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity22.4%

Gender diversity57.2%

International1%

Identity—

Overview

Ole Miss is Mississippi's flagship university, set in the literary college town of Oxford, William Faulkner's hometown and still home to his estate, Rowan Oak. It combines a strong sense of Southern tradition with respected academic programs, and its social calendar, especially football weekends, is as much a part of student identity as the classroom. The campus's history, including James Meredith's 1962 integration of the university, is part of an institutional story the university now engages with directly rather than avoids.

Academics

The Patterson School of Accountancy and the Meek School of Journalism and New Media are particularly strong, and the Croft Institute for International Studies offers a distinctive, rigorous track combining language study, economics, and history for students interested in global affairs. The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College provides a smaller, more intensive experience for high-achieving students within the larger university, and the School of Pharmacy carries a solid regional reputation as well.

Campus & student life

Oxford's small-town charm and literary heritage, including its well-regarded independent bookstore culture, give the campus a distinctive character beyond typical college-town amenities. The Grove's game-day tailgating, tents and all, is among the most famous traditions in college sports, and Greek life and football are central to social life on campus. The town itself, built around its historic courthouse square, has a genuine literary and cultural identity that exists independent of the university.

Getting in

Ole Miss's admissions process is fairly accessible relative to its flagship status, with particular strength in attracting out-of-state students through generous merit scholarships tied to standardized test scores and GPA. Applicants interested in the Croft Institute or the honors college should expect a more competitive, separate review layered on top of general admission, often requiring supplemental essays specific to that program.

After graduation

Accounting and business graduates place exceptionally well with regional and national accounting firms, a reflection of the accountancy program's strong reputation, and the university's Southern alumni network is dense and loyal, particularly across Mississippi and the broader South. Journalism graduates from the Meek School have a track record in both regional and national newsrooms.

Worth knowing

Ole Miss has a strong reputation for merit aid that draws out-of-state students who might otherwise attend pricier flagships, and its honors college and Croft Institute offer meaningfully different, more rigorous experiences than the general university population gets. Students should know that the university's social scene, especially Greek life and football culture, is genuinely central to student life here in a way it isn't at every flagship.

olemiss.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate96.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1000–1200 · ACT 21–29

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App or Own application.

Priority / scholarshipJan 10

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no binding early plan; applying by the priority date is what keeps scholarship and honors consideration on the table.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗