Student Experience
Experience Life
as a Bulldog
Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, offers students a full campus life built around housing, dining, student organizations, Greek life, athletics, and campus traditions. For 2026-27, MSU has 17 residence halls, over a dozen dining locations, and over 300 student organizations, and students can start their own club. Greek life includes 9 Panhellenic chapters, 17 Interfraternity Council chapters, 2 United Greek Council chapters, and all members of the Divine Nine. Students can also get student tickets to MSU athletic events.
Get Involved Campus Resources
Life as a
Mississippi State
Student
Mississippi State University is more than just a university — it is a home for students to grow academically, socially, and personally while building meaningful relationships and preparing for their future careers.
— Lauren Perrigo
Mathematics, Brentwood, TN
Housing
Living on campus is so much more than just waking up close to your 8:00 a.m. class. The 17 Residence Halls at MSU provide a home away from home that just so happens to include a community of new potential best friends and more.
Dining
Mississippi State University has over a dozen dining locations on campus, including Perry Food Hall, the main all-you-care-to-eat dining hall, plus Moe’s Southwest Grill, Bento Sushi, Chick-fil-A, and The Pod. MSU meal plans are available for on-campus residents, commuters, and off-campus students, and the True Balance Station at Perry Food Hall serves meals made without gluten and the top 9 food allergens.
Starkville, MS
Starkville, Mississippi, is home to Mississippi State University and works with the university to create a home away from home for students. The city has local restaurants, coffee shops, live music, and community events, and the Cotton District is a walkable neighborhood near campus with locally owned shops and restaurants. Students can ride the free SMART Bus between campus and key destinations in Starkville.
Traditions
Mississippi State University’s traditions include ringing cowbells on game day, tailgating in the Junction, wearing maroon on Maroon Fridays, the Cowbell Yell pep rally, Homecoming, and Bulldog Bash, one of the largest free outdoor concerts in Mississippi. Dawg Days is the official welcome experience for new freshmen and transfer students.
Mississippi State has given me the best environment to have community and find joy in my time outside of the classroom. I chose to participate in greek life, where I joined Phi Mu and met some of the best friends. I’ve truly found my people who are always willing to join me at the gym, serve the community, or cheer on the dawgs in Davis Wade. Hail State!
— Kylie Morgan
Gautier, MS
Campus Life
Getting Involved
How to get involved at Mississippi State University:
- Browse Cowbell Connect to find a student organization that fits your interests.
- Explore Greek life, intramural sports, and the other groups among MSU’s over 300 student organizations.
- Start your own club if you have a specific interest.
- Learn how to get student tickets for MSU athletic events.
Fraternity &
Sorority Life
Mississippi State offers a robust system of Greek organizations, including 9 Panhellenic chapters, 17 Intrafraternal council chapters, and all members of the Divine Nine. Fraternity and Sorority life is a great way to find community outside of the classroom, get involved in philanthropic opportunities, and find support when you need it.
Hail State!
Athletics at MSU
Support the Bulldogs as a Bulldog! Mississippi State University students buy student tickets for MSU athletic events through a student Dog Tag account linked to their MSU net ID email. The All Sport Pass covers home football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and softball games, and admission is free to regular season non-ticketed events, including golf, tennis, soccer, track and field, and volleyball. Student tickets are mobile only, and student IDs do not work for entry. New freshmen and transfers set up their student Dog Tag account at the beginning of the semester.
Campus Resources
Mississippi State University offers free tutoring through the Center for Academic Excellence, a Writing Center and Speaking Center, the John C. Longest Student Health Center, free Student Counseling Services, and the MSU Career Center. Every full-time student also gets a free membership to the Joe Frank Sanderson Center, and the MSU Police Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.