Alcorn State University is the oldest public historically black land-grant institution in the United States and the second-oldest state supported institution of higher learning in Mississippi. Alcorn University was founded in 1871 as a result of the people of Mississippi's efforts to educate the descendants of formerly enslaved Africans. It was named in honor of the sitting governor of Mississippi, James L. Alcorn. The site was originally occupied by Oakland College, a school established by Presbyterians in 1828; the state of Mississippi purchased the Oakland campus for $40,000 and named it Alcorn University. Hiram R. Revels resigned his seat as a United States senator to become the University's first president. In 1878, Alcorn University became Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. The college was exclusively for males at first, but eventually women were admitted. Over time, facilities increased from three historic buildings to more than 80 structures. The original purchase of 225 acres of land grew to a campus of more than 1,700 acres. In 1974, Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College became Alcorn State University. Governor William L. Waller signed House Bill 298, granting this status. Today, Alcorn operates divisions with degree programs in more than 40 areas, including the bachelor's, master's and educational specialist degrees. Alcorn also operates branch locations in Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi. The student population is representative of more than 30 states and at least 18 foreign countries. Alcorn is nationally recognized for excellence in liberal arts, agricultural research, technology, music and nursing. Generations of successful alumni have distinguished themselves in the most competitive arenas, including education, medicine, law and business to professional athletics.
Office of Admissions
1000 ASU Drive #330
Lorman, MS 39096
In-state call: 1.800.222.6790
Delta State University first began as Delta State Teachers College by an act of the state legislature in 1924. The institution opened for its first regular session on September 15, 1925, with a faculty and staff of 11 members and an enrollment of 97 students. To match the institution's growth in enrollment and academic offerings, the name was changed to Delta State College in 1955 and to Delta State University in 1974. Graduate work was first offered in 1965 when the Master of Education degree was approved. After other master's programs were added, the University began offering the Educational Specialist degree (1972), the Doctor of Education degree (1981) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (2013). The University provides a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum, offering 13 baccalaureate degrees in 40 majors. It also seeks to meet the need for advanced training in certain fields by providing programs of study for nine master's degrees, an Educational Specialist degree, a Doctor of Education degree, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. The Mississippi Delta, a twenty-county, northwestern region which is rich in various ethnic and cultural groups, provides approximately 80% of the University's enrollment.
Office of the Registrar
Kent Wyatt Hall 152
Cleveland, MS 38733
1-800-GOTODSU
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black university in Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi. Jackson State's nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change their lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi's Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, healthcare, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the metropolitan area, Jackson State's main campus is located near downtown. With nearly 10,000 students, Jackson State is the fourth-largest institution of higher learning in Mississippi and fourth-largest HBCU in the nation. JSU offers more than 90 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs through traditional and online course offerings. JSU was named an Apple Distinguished School for 2013-15 and 2015-17 for uniquely implementing technology into the curriculum. The university is accredited by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is designated as a "Higher Research Activity" by The Carnegie Classification.
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
P. O. Box 17330-1325
Jackson, MS 39217
In-state call: 1.800.848.6817
From a comprehensive set of educational options and groundbreaking research to award-winning service initiatives and an environment that embraces intellectual and creative freedom, the Mississippi State University experience is transforming and empowering communities throughout the world. As one of the national land-grant colleges established after Congress passed the Morrill Act in 1862, the school opened its doors in the fall of 1880 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi. Today, MSU stands as one of the nation's leading research universities, providing access and opportunity to students from all sectors of the state, as well as from all 50 states and 88 other countries. In addition to being a top-ranked employer, Mississippi State is among the National Science Foundation's Top 100 research universities and ranks in the Top 10 nationally in agriculture-related research, a position it has held for nearly two decades. The university's research and development expenditures reached $226.4 million in 2016, accounting for more than half of the total $410 million spent in this area by all Mississippi institutions. Further setting MSU apart is its commitment to strengthen global food security and eliminate starvation in developing countries, its designation as the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence, and its pursuit of solutions for health-related issues such as pandemic flu, sickle-cell anemia and chronic lung diseases. From building the car of the future to designing an all-electric Navy ship to strengthening Mississippi's teacher workforce, MSU's student-led teams are thinking beyond boundaries to build a better future.
Office of Admissions
P. O. Box 9700
Mississippi State, MS 39762
1.662.325.2224
Established in l884, Mississippi University for Women also known as The W, became the first public college for women in America. Originally known as the Industrial Institute and College, the institution was created by an act of the Mississippi Legislature on March l2, l884, for the dual purposes of providing a liberal arts education and preparing women for employment. The first session began October 22, l885, with an enrollment of approximately 250 students on a campus formerly occupied by the Columbus Female Institute, a private college founded in l847. The name of the institution changed to Mississippi State College for Women in l920 to reflect an emphasis on collegiate rather than vocational education. The name changed again in l974 to Mississippi University for Women to reflect better the nature of the academic programs, including graduate studies. In l982 the United States Supreme Court ordered the university to admit a male student to the nursing program. Following this historic decision, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning ordered the university to change its policies to allow the admission of qualified males into all university programs. In l988 the Board of Trustees reaffirmed the mission of MUW as an institution of quality academic programs for all qualified students with emphasis on distinctive opportunities for women. Today, The W continues its historic focus on academic leadership development for women, as well as its long tradition of excellence in liberal arts and professional education for both women and men. The W prepares its students for a wide variety of roles both professionally and personally.
Office of Admissions
P. O. Box W-1613
Columbus, MS 39701
In-state call: 1.877.462.8439
Mississippi Valley State University was created by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Vocational College in 1946. The expressed purpose of the institution was to train teachers for rural and elementary schools and to provide vocational training. The first academic session started in the summer of 1950 with an enrollment of 305 in-service teachers. The first full academic year, 1950-51, began with 14 regular students and seven faculty members. Under its original name and purpose, the institution provided a higher education opportunity for many first-generation college students. In order to reflect the broadening scope and offerings of the institution, its name was changed to Mississippi Valley State College in 1964. Under this transition, the institution became more general purpose in nature while retaining its commitment to provide special higher education opportunities. The name of the institution was changed to Mississippi Valley State University in 1974. Graduate programs were begun in 1976.
Office of Admissions
P. O. Box 7222
Itta Bena, MS 38941
In-state call: 1.800.844.6885
The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state's oldest and largest public university and is included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification. With more than 24,000 students, Ole Miss is among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. Its 16 academic divisions include nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, which is acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. The 1.2 million-volume library houses the nation's most extensive blues archive and the National Library of the Accounting Profession. Ole Miss has one of only 12 Chinese Flagship programs in the nation, along with the acclaimed Center for the Study of Southern Culture, a multidisciplinary Center for Manufacturing Excellence, the Croft Institute for International Studies, which prepares graduates to compete in a global market, the National Center for Natural Product Research and more than two dozen other institutes and research centers. It is home to 120 programs of study and the state's only academic medical center, which has more than 1 million patient visits annually and is a national leader in telehealth. For nine consecutive years, UM has been named a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Office of Admissions and Records
University, MS 38677
In-state call: 1.800.653.6477
Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi is a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven university with a proud history and an eye on the future. A dual-campus university, Southern Miss serves students on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, in addition to five teaching and research sites in Mississippi and through Online at Southern Miss. Since 2006, Southern Miss students have collected seven Goldwater Scholarships, three Truman Scholarships and 17 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Our Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research affords our students meaningful research opportunities, and as a proven leader in innovation, we conduct transformative research that translates into real-world solutions. As one of only 36 institutions in the nation accredited in art, dance, music and theatre, we are a haven for creativity and artistic expression. In the classroom or lab, on the playing field, or in the performance hall, we strive to have a positive impact not only on our students, but also the world around us.
Office of Admissions
118 College Drive #5166
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
1.601.266.5000
