Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Starting September 1, undergraduate students applying to Mississippi State University will have the ability to do so through The Common Application, a powerful online college application platform that serves and supports more than three million applicants, teachers and counselors across the United States and around the world every year.

By becoming a Common App member, MSU will gain exposure to students who may not have otherwise considered the institution while making the application, including fee waiver, process more efficient. One-third of the more than one million Common App applicants are the first in their family to pursue a college degree.

“As a land-grant institution, Mississippi State University is committed to providing affordable higher education that is accessible to all students. Joining The Common Application allows us to facilitate our process to be as simple and manageable as possible for all prospective students,” said MSU Assistant Vice President for Enrollment John Dickerson.

In addition to providing a single, online application and 24/7/365 support for all students applying to member colleges and universities, the Common App connects applicants to financial aid and scholarship tools, digital portfolios, virtual mentors, a virtual counselor, and a library of resources for counselors, advisors and recommenders working with students to complete their college applications. This also includes Spanish language translations.   

“The diversity of our membership is one of our greatest strengths,” said Jenny Rickard, president and CEO of The Common Application. “Through membership with The Common Application, Mississippi State has demonstrated a shared commitment to pursuing access, equity and integrity in the college admission process. Thanks to our members, all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to easily apply to the college or university that will help them achieve their best future.”

Students can create a Common App account now because their account will roll over from year to year. Beginning this year, Common App members will also begin using the newly introduced Common App for transfer, a separate application designed exclusively to meet the needs of transfer and adult student populations.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University is a comprehensive, doctoral-degree-granting university offering to a diverse and capable student body a wide range of opportunities and challenges for learning and growth. Among the National Science Foundation’s Top 100 research universities, MSU provides access and opportunity to students from all sectors of the state, as well as from all 50 states and nearly 80 other countries. MSU is working to strengthen global food security and find solutions for health-related issues such as pandemic flu, sickle-cell anemia and chronic lung diseases. The humanities also are an important part of MSU’s overall research portfolio. Further setting MSU apart is its designation as the FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Visit MSU online at www.admissions.msstate.edu or follow Mississippi’s leading university on social media @msstate and #WeRingTrue.

About The Common Application

The Common Application is a not-for-profit member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year, more than one million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, apply to college through the Common App’s online application. Founded in 1975, the Common App serves more than 800 member colleges and universities worldwide.

To learn more, visit commonapp.org, follow @CommonApp, and #CommonApp.