Admission to the University
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Freshman Admission
Standard Test Results
Please note that standard test results (ACT or SAT) should be sent directly from the testing service to the admissions office.
College Preparatory Curriculum
Admission of entering freshmen is based on the completion of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) specified below with either a specific minimum grade-point average (GPA) or both a specific GPA and minimum standard test score. Students must submit a high school transcript reflecting satisfactory completion of the following high school course requirements as well as an official graduation date. (Provisional admission may be granted after six semesters of high school provided the transcript indicates that courses to complete the CPC are underway; final admission will require a complete transcript.)
| Carnegie Subject | Units | Contents and Remark |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | All must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading and Writing may not be included. |
| Mathematics | 4 | Algebra I or its equivalent Math higher than Algebra I (2 units) |
| Science | 3 | Biology I or its equivalent Science higher than Biology I (2 units) |
| Social Studies | 3 | U.S. History World History U.S. Government (½ unit) Economics (½ unit) or Introduction to World Geography (½ unit) |
| Art | 1 | Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two ½ units) of visual and performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high school graduation. |
| Advanced electives | 2 | Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced World Geography Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higher than Algebra I, Science higher than Biology I, Advanced Elective category, any AP course, any IB course |
| Technology | 1/2 | A course that emphasizes the use of technology as a productivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. The application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course |
Notes:
- Pre-High School units: Courses taken prior to high school will be accepted for admission provided the course earns Carnegie credit and the content is the same as the high school course.
- Substitutions: Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses can be substituted for each requirement in the College Preparatory Curriculum.
- Course Acceptance: A course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement.
- The Required and Recommended College Preparatory Curricula (CPC) are approved by the IHL Board of Trustees, and the IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs maintains a complete list of courses that can be used to satisfy the CPC requirements. See www.mississippi.edu/admissions/. The Mississippi Department of Education also maintains an online course catalog with CPC classifications for each course avaliable at http://www.rcu.msstate.edu/Curriculum/MDECourseCode.aspx.aspx
Admission of Mississippi Residents
Regular admission will be granted to the following:
- Students completing the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a minimum 3.20 high school GPA on the CPC.
- Students completing the CPC with a minimum 2.50 high school GPA on the CPC and a minimum score of 16 on the composite ACT (or 880 on the SAT).
- Students completing the CPC with a class rank in the top 50 percent and a minimum score of 16 on the composite ACT (or 880 on the SAT).
- Students completing the CPC with a minimum 2.00 high school GPA on the CPC and a minimum composite score of 18 on the ACT (or 960 on the SAT).
- Students who meet full-qualifier certification requirements for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Nonresident Admissions
IHL Board policy regarding the admission of nonresident students was changed effective for students applying for summer or Fall of 2022 or a subsequent term. The following policy was approved at the March 2011 board meeting:
Any student identified as a nonresident will be qualified for admission to a Mississippi institution of higher learning based on equivalent preparation as determined by the admitting institution.
If, however, an admitting institution determines that anticipated enrollment will exceed the institution’s capacity to adequately serve all prospective students who are otherwise qualified for admission, then the institution may make appropriate admissions decisions from among the pool of otherwise qualified nonresident applicants in light of institutional capacity and consistent with constitutional and other legal requirements, as well as in light of the IHL and the admitting institution’s values, mission, and goals.
Specific admissions criteria for nonresident students can be found at the following website: www.olemiss.edu/admissions or by contacting the Office of Admissions.
Admission Requirements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy and Early Entry Nursing
Freshman admission requirements for the professional program in pharmacy and early entry nursing differ from general admission requirements. Please see the pharmacy and health professions sections of the catalog for details.
Minimum Test Scores
Students whose ACT subtest score in reading and/or English is less than 17 (or SAT verbal score is 480 or less) are required to enroll in an appropriate developmental course during the first semester of enrollment and to remain in the course until receiving a passing grade or until passing the placement exam administered by the Department of Developmental Studies. Additionally, students whose ACT subtest score in mathematics is less than 19 (or SAT mathematics score is 510 or less) are required to enroll in an appropriate developmental course during the first semester of enrollment and to remain in the course until receiving a passing grade or until passing the placement exam administered by the Department of Developmental Studies. Students with ACT subtest scores of 17, 18, or 19 are encouraged to enroll in developmental courses. Those students who enroll in two or more developmental courses also are required to complete two semesters of Developmental Support Lab (see below). Enrollment in developmental courses is limited to students with subtest scores below 20 except with permission of the department. Developmental courses completed at other postsecondary institutions before enrolling at The University of Mississippi may be considered to meet developmental requirements.
Test Score Minimums as Course Prerequisites
Some courses may require a minimum standard test score as a prerequisite. For example, students enrolling in Biology 160/161 must have a 24 subscore on the mathematics portion of the ACT (SAT math score of 580) or have completed College Algebra with a grade of B or higher. Students enrolling in Chemistry 105/106 must have one of the following: a 24 subscore on the mathematics portion of the ACT (SAT score of 580); completed Chemistry 101 with a grade of C or higher; completed Math 125 (Basic Mathematics for Science and Engineering) with a grade of B or higher.
Other Admission Criteria
Residents of Mississippi who apply and do not meet the admission requirements stated above may enter the Comprehensive Academic Screening Program (counseling and testing) held on campus and at other designated locations prior to the beginning of the first summer session. Such counseling will consider student interests, special skills, experiences, and other noncognitive factors. After counseling, students will take a computer- based examination, Accuplacer, to assist the university in the admission decision. Students who pass the Accuplacer will be admitted for the fall term and will be encouraged to participate in the Developmental Support Lab during the first two semesters of enrollment.
Summer Developmental Program
Mississippi residents who are not successful on the Accuplacer examination may be admitted to the Summer Developmental Program. This intensive program concentrates on those high school subject areas (writing, reading, mathematics) that are crucial to success in first-year college courses. Students who successfully exit the summer program may continue in the fall term with the requirement of participation in the Developmental Support Lab during the fall and spring semesters. Students who do not pass the Summer Developmental Program are counseled to explore other postsecondary options, including those offered by two-year colleges that prepare students for transfer into bachelor’s degree programs.
The Developmental Support Lab is designed to assist students with first-year college studies. The goal of this lab is to provide individualized support in intermediate and regular academic courses for marginally prepared students.
Earning College Credit in High School
In the summer before the senior year in high school, students may earn university credit by attending enrichment programs such as Croft Summer Scholars, and the Summer Institutes in Art, Journalism, and in Music.
Students must have completed a minimum of 14 high school units with a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or better on all high school courses, as documented by an official high school transcript; home-schooled students must submit a transcript prepared by a parent, guardian, or custodian with a signed, sworn affidavit to meet the requirement. Students must have an unconditional written recommendation from their high school principal and/or guidance counselor. A home-schooled student must submit a parent, legal guardian or custodian’s written recommendation to meet the requirement. Students may be considered for the dual enrollment program who have not completed the minimum 14 core high school units if they have a minimum ACT composite score of thirty (30) or the equivalent SAT score, and have the required grade-point average and recommendations outlined above.
Summer enrichment programs are administered by the Office of Summer School.