Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition savings program allowing residents of a participating state to pursue specific academic degree programs not offered in their home states without having to pay non-resident tuition charges. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) coordinates the ACM program for the fifteen participating states, which include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Please note that Florida and Texas only participate in the program at the Graduate level.

Residents from non-SREB states are not eligible to participate in the Academic Common Market.

To qualify for the ACM, a student must be a legal resident of an SREB member state, select a participating program that is approved for the ACM for his or her state and be admitted unconditionally to that program of the host institution.

Mississippi State University Academic Common Market Deadlines and Criteria:

A letter of Certification of Residency for the student should be obtained from the ACM state coordinators. This letter must be received and approved by the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President by:

June 30th for Fall semester

October 31st for Spring semester

March 31st for Summer semester(s)

In order to receive the Academic Common Market waiver for non-resident tuition, all paperwork must be received and approved no later than the last day to register or add a course (6th class day) in a semester.

Effective January 1st, 2023, to receive the Academic Common Market tuition remission for approved programs, Mississippi State University requires that an entering student meet the following criteria:

  • ACT composite score of 22
  • Minimum ACT sub-score of 19 for Math and English
  • 2.75 core GPA on High School transcripts

In addition to the ACT and High School requirements, transfer students (4 year and Community College) must meet the following criteria:

  • 2.75 GPA on college transcripts

For currently enrolled MSU students transferring to an Academic Common Market eligible major, students must also have:

  • 3.0 Overall GPA

To be admitted into an ACM approved graduate programs, applicants must meet the minimum university admission requirements for the Graduate School as well as any specific departmental requirements that may apply.

As part of the Academic Common Market application a student must secure a letter from the home department confirming that:

  1. The student has been admitted into the appropriate ACM-eligible major at Mississippi State University.
  2. The student meets the Mississippi State University Academic Common Market criteria as stated above. This letter is critical as it informs the Academic Common Market Coordinator of the student’s home state, that the student meets the criteria to access the desired major through the Academic Common Market at Mississippi State University.

The ACM Non-resident Tuition Remission is 100 percent and will remain at the 100 percent level if the student meets the following criteria:

  • The student must remain a legal resident of the state from which the student received ACM residency certification.
  • The student must remain in the approved academic degree program for which the student was certified. If a student changes his or her academic degree program (major) from the approved ACM academic degree program, then the student must inform the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President of the change of major immediately. The student will be responsible for the non-resident tuition for the remain semesters at MSU and will no longer be eligible to receive the ACM non-resident tuition waiver.
  • The student must be and remain enrolled as a full-time student each semester. For Undergraduate students, the minimum requirements are 12 semester hours for the Fall and Spring Semesters. For graduate students, the minimum requirement are 9 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • If a student attends during a summer term, we do not require but encourage them to be enrolled full-time, which is 6 hours for undergraduate and graduate students alike.
  • The student must maintain academic good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all attempted coursework at MSU and comply with all the requirements of the approved academic program (requirements may be program specific) for which the student was certified for the ACM. To be in good standing the student must be making satisfactory progress towards the completion of the academic degree program, such as taking the appropriate courses approved by the academic advisor each semester. Progress and course requirements will be determined by the academic advisor and/or program coordinator at the end of each semester to determine eligibility for the next term.
  • If a student remains out of school from MSU for one calendar year or more, then the student must obtain recertification from their ACM state coordinator. Continuance in the ACM program after a one-year absence is not automatic.

At the end of each semester grades will be checked to ensure continued access to the ACM non-resident tuition remission. Students must meet the following criteria:

  • A student must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA
  • Comply with all the requirements of the approved academic program (requirements may be program specific and require a higher GPA) for which you were certified for the ACM.
  • If at the end of the semester, a student does not have an overall 3.0 GPA, then they will be placed on ACM probation.
  • Students who were certified and admitted prior to January 1, 2024, must have an MSU and Overall GPA of 2.75, and follow the same criteria as described above.
  • There is only one ACM probation semester for ACM recipients.

If a student loses their ACM non-resident tuition remission, they have the right to appeal their ACM status.

  • Appeals of loss of the ACM non-resident tuition remission may be made based on mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances are those that influence the student’s academic performance, were substantially beyond the control of the student, and whose occurrence would not likely be repeated.
  • Illness or injury of the student or death in the student’s immediate family are examples of situations which could be mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances must be documented in the appeal for reinstatement of the ACM non-resident tuition remission.
  • There is no circumstance that automatically qualifies a student for reinstatement of the ACM non-resident tuition remission

The MSU ACM Appeals Committee, appointed by the Provost and Executive Vice President, has authority over all appeals and its decisions are final. An appeal form can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice president or by clinking here:

Academic Common Market Non-Resident Tuition Remission Appeal Form.

For more information visit the Southern Regional Education Board website at www.sreb.org. Or for questions regarding submission or deadlines, contact the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President location in 3500 Lee Hall at 662-325-3742 or provost@msstate.edu.

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Mississippi State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees.

Mississippi State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Mississippi State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

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