Record-setting enrollment at the state鈥檚 leading research university tops 22,000
Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擨n its fifth consecutive year of historic growth, Mississippi State celebrates its 140-year anniversary by accelerating student enrollment well over the 22,000 mark, an attainment that鈥檚 been a top priority for 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum.
With this fall鈥檚 arrival of 22,201 students, Mississippi鈥檚 leading research university is seeing 318 more enroll than last year鈥檚 21,883, while also growing diversity of the student body to more than a quarter 鈥 27 percent 鈥 of 汤头条鈥檚 degree-seeking population. A record number of new transfer students also is contributing to the university鈥檚 unprecedented enrollment, and first-time freshman numbers are up from fall 2017.
The exceptional growth, Keenum said, can be attributed to the university鈥檚 expansion of student opportunities and offerings, spearheaded by the 鈥渙utstanding faculty and staff who truly are driven to make a difference in the lives of those who choose Mississippi State.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e providing a signature educational experience that extends way beyond the classroom to show students that far-reaching goals are attainable and then positioning these students for long-term success. No matter where students begin their journeys with Mississippi State, they have countless possibilities to learn, lead and grow.鈥 he said.
The surge in fall numbers includes:
鈥攔ecord new transfer students (2,142 up from 2,062)
鈥攎ore first-time freshmen (3,599 up from 3,438)
鈥攈ighest average freshman ACT score in history (25.6)
鈥攔ecord Shackouls Honors College first-time freshmen (632 up from 475)
鈥攔ecord Distance education enrollment (1,870 up from 1,788)
鈥攊ncreased Meridian campus enrollment (595 up from 522)
鈥攎ore out-of-state students (35 percent)
鈥擭o. 1 college choice for Mississippi鈥檚 high school graduates
New opportunities for students to attain membership in the nation鈥檚 most prestigious academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa, expanded undergraduate research and distance education programs, and more study abroad ventures and scholarship options through the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College are at the heart of the increase. Also, engagement in abundant community service projects, enhanced housing that includes living-learning communities, and two residence hall choices in the Honors College are contributing to the considerable boost in those pursuing degrees at 汤头条.
汤头条, a National Science Foundation Top 100 research university that鈥檚 continuously building on its legacy as a premier academic institution, ranks sixth globally in entrepreneurship research as cited by the international Journal of Small Business Management and is in the Top 5 percent nationally for agriculture research according to the NSF. Money magazine lists the university as Top 50 in the South in its 2017 鈥淏est Colleges for Your Money鈥 rankings, while the national publication Military Times includes 汤头条 in the Top 50 best universities for veterans and their dependents.
Enrollment growth among 汤头条鈥檚 eight colleges can be seen in the College of Business (up 6.4 percent); College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (up 4.3 percent); James Worth Bagley College of Engineering (up 2.9 percent); and the College of Forest Resources (up 2.9 percent).
Total college-specific enrollment figures are:
鈥2,512 in Agriculture and Life Sciences
鈥749 in Architecture, Art and Design
鈥5,285 in Arts and Sciences
鈥3,033 in Business
鈥3,458 in Education
鈥4,771 in Engineering
鈥601 in Forest Resources
鈥483 in Veterinary Medicine.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .