Mississippi: school, college and career rules
Mississippi requires 24 Carnegie units plus end-of-course test requirements for a Traditional Diploma (endorsements need 26 or 28), gives every junior the ACT, gives resident tuition after 12 months of continuous residence, and funds the HELP, MTAG and MESG state aid programs.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, Appendix A-6 (Standard 14): students who entered ninth grade in 2018-19 or later need at least 24 Carnegie units for the Traditional Diploma; districts may add local requirements. mdek12.org returns 403 for its standards PDFs from India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-04-08 (20260408142605). The 2026 edition has no capture yet.MDE
| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English | 4 units, including English I and English II |
| Mathematics | 4 units, including Algebra I |
| Science | 3 units, including Biology |
| Social studies | 3 1/2 units: World History, U.S. History, 1/2 U.S. Government, 1/2 Economics and 1/2 Mississippi Studies |
| Physical education | 1/2 unit |
| Health | 1/2 unit (Contemporary Health) |
| Technology or computer science | 1 unit |
| The arts | 1 unit |
| College and career readiness | 1 unit |
| Electives | 5 1/2 units |
24 Carnegie units (26 for the Career and Technical or Academic endorsement, 28 for the Distinguished Academic endorsement).
State tests for the diploma
Each diploma student must meet the requirement on each required high school end-of-course test (MAAP Algebra I, English II and Biology) or one of the State Board's options in lieu of passing, such as a composite score or a portfolio. The U.S. History end-of-course test ended in 2025-26. mdek12.org returns 403 for its standards PDFs from India; read from the Internet Archive capture of 2026-04-08 (20260408142605). The 2026 edition has no capture yet.MDE
Also good to know
- Every ninth grader chooses the Traditional Diploma or adds an endorsement: Career and Technical or JROTC (a state-approved credential or a career-aligned AP, IB or Cambridge course), Academic (2.5 GPA, ACT English 17 and math 19 or equivalent) or Distinguished Academic (3.0 GPA, ACT English 18 and math 22).
MDE
Diploma with Endorsements OptionsMississippi Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Students who earn an academic or distinguished academic endorsement from a public high school are accepted into any Mississippi public university.
MDE
Diploma with Endorsements OptionsMississippi Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
State test: MAAP and the grade 11 ACT
Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) and the statewide grade 11 ACT. MAAP measures English language arts, mathematics and science against the Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards; every eleventh grader takes the ACT. MDE
View source
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| MAAP | English language arts and mathematics | Grades 3–8 |
| MAAP | Science | Grades 5 and 8 |
| MAAP end of course | Algebra I, English II and Biology I | High school |
| ACT | College readiness | Grade 11 (all students) |
Source: MDE
View source
What the scores are used for
- The ACT is given to all students classified as eleventh graders; districts can also give ACT WorkKeys in grades 10 to 12, where a score of 3 or more on Applied Math, Graphic Literacy and Workplace Documents earns the National Career Readiness Certificate.
MDE
Mississippi College and Career TestingMississippi Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- ACT subscores of 17 in English and 19 in math (Academic) or 18 and 22 (Distinguished Academic) are one way to earn a diploma endorsement.
MDE
Diploma with Endorsements OptionsMississippi Department of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL)University system · Mississippi's eight public universities under one Board of Trustees: Alcorn State, Delta State, Jackson State, Mississippi State, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi, plus the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
- Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB)Community colleges · The coordinating agency for Mississippi's 15 community colleges, which offer university transfer, technical careers and workforce training.
Sources: IHL
View sourceMCCB
View source
Every school in Mississippi, public and private, with cost and completion: 56 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 2 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- Mississippi Code §§ 37-103-1 to 37-103-29: no student may be admitted to a public university as a Mississippi resident unless their residence has been in Mississippi for a continuous 12 months immediately before admission. The burden of proof is on the student.
USM
Mississippi Residency (classification under Mississippi Code §§ 37-103-1 to 37-103-29)The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- An adult who has lived in Mississippi for 12 months after turning 21 can establish residence by showing intent to stay permanently: Mississippi income tax returns, voter eligibility, vehicle registration, a Mississippi driver's license, employment and self-support. Residence of a person under 21 is that of a parent or court-appointed guardian.
USM
Mississippi Residency (classification under Mississippi Code §§ 37-103-1 to 37-103-29)The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- A minor who graduated from a Mississippi high school after attending for at least the final four years does not pay out-of-state tuition; service members stationed in Mississippi, National Guard members and their families also qualify.
USM
Mississippi Residency (classification under Mississippi Code §§ 37-103-1 to 37-103-29)The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of the Registrar- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid (an office of IHL). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP)
Full tuition for up to four years for Mississippi residents of one year with a 2.5 high school GPA, an ACT of 20 (superscores accepted) and a full or partial Pell Grant; apply 1 October to 31 March. MS OSFA
View source
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
For one-year Mississippi residents with a 2.5 GPA and an ACT of 15 who enroll full-time and receive less than the maximum Pell Grant; apply by 15 September. MS OSFA
View source
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
Up to $2,500 a year (not more than tuition and required fees) for residents with a 3.5 GPA and an ACT of 29 (SAT 1330) or National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist status, enrolled full-time in Mississippi. MS OSFA
View source
Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Mississippi license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Mississippi board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions | Mississippi's own bar exam with the MBE, MEE and MPT. MPRE required (passing score 75). Moving to the NextGen UBE; NCBE lists no first date yet. NCBEMississippi: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.) FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Mississippi Board of Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Nurse Licensure Compact member since Jan. 19, 2018 NCSBNContact Mississippi Board of NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
Engineering, teaching, real estate, cosmetology and the trades have their own boards: all professional licenses · trades and apprenticeships.
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
State of Mississippi careers (governmentjobs.com)
Mississippi State Personnel Board
- View and apply for open positions in state government through the State Personnel Board's careers page.
- The Governor's Job Fair Network (jobfairs.ms.gov) lists statewide hiring events.
Source: MSPB
View source
Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Mississippi has no State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship registers programs here. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Mississippi Apprenticeship Office (U.S. Department of Labor)Mississippi has no recognized State Apprenticeship Agency: the U.S. Department of Labor's Mississippi Apprenticeship Office registers and oversees programs.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: Apprenticeship.gov
View source
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Mississippi: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Mississippi Board of Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2025 (Standard 14; Appendix A-5 and Appendix A-6 Traditional Diploma) · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Diploma with Endorsements Options · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi College and Career Testing · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- About IHL · Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi Community College Board (home page) · Mississippi Community College Board checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi Residency (classification under Mississippi Code §§ 37-103-1 to 37-103-29) · The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of the Registrar checked 2026-10-22
- HELP - Higher Ed Legislative Plan · Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid checked 2026-10-22
- MTAG - Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant · Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid checked 2026-10-22
- MESG - Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant · Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi State Personnel Board (home page: Job Seekers) · Mississippi State Personnel Board checked 2026-10-22
- State Offices: Office of Apprenticeship and State Apprenticeship Agency contacts by state · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21