Seven of eight public universities in Mississippi see enrollment growth

Alcorn State University was the only institution to show a decrease in enrollment, down 3.2 percent over the year.

Every public university except one in the state of Mississippi experienced enrollment growth over the last year, with the largest growth by percentage seen at the Mississippi University for Women.

On average, the entire system under the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning saw enrollment increase by 2.7 percent from 79,817 in 2024 to 81,961 in 2025.

“Mississippi’s universities continue to set a high standard for our students in terms of value and price, and these enrollment figures reflect the confidence that families from around the state and beyond have in our university system,” said Dr. Al Rankins Jr., Commissioner of Higher Education. “With the support from the