The university is a charter member of the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education, which was formed last year. Now in its fourth decade, MSU's cooperative education program is open to all academic disciplines. Participants alternate semesters between campus study and salaried employment in their field of study. With nearly 900 students currently enrolled and more than 400 applying for future participation, Mississippi State's co-op program is the 12th largest in the nation. Students currently work in 38 states with more than 300 companies and government agencies.
ACCE accreditation is awarded by an independent review board of institutional members.
Inclusion in the organization requires a comprehensive self-study completed by the university and a favorable report based on a review team's visit to campus. Accredited programs also are required to have established missions and goals, written criteria for student eligibility and a formal plan for alternating a student's academic studies with work experience.