All but one of Mississippi’s nine public universities saw enrollment growth this fall.
Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning reported Monday a nearly 3% growth in enrollment in fall 2025 compared to fall 2024. Total student enrollment across the system is 81,961, compared to 79,817 a year ago. Fueled by record enrollment at the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, students flocked to universities statewide amid an anticipated dip in the number of students attending college nationwide.
For the third consecutive year, Ole Miss set a record for total enrollment, bringing in 28,405 students across its seven campuses, marking five straight years of total enrollment growth and a 4.7% increase compared to 2024. This fall’s freshman class includes 5,464 students representing 82 Mississippi counties, all 50 U.S. states, and 93 countries, per university officials.
“The University of Mississippi continues its upward trajectory as students choose our institution for exceptional academics, a vibrant campus culture and life-changing opportunities,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “Our growth is a testament to the strength of an Ole Miss education, as well as to our deeply committed faculty who empower our students to become the next generation of leaders.”
The momentum continued at Mississippi State, with the university topping its enrollment record this fall and seeing a 12.6% surge in first-time students. Mississippi State recorded a total of 23,563 students, an increase of more than 400 students over 2024’s final count of 23,150.
In Cleveland, Delta State rode the high tide with a 5.2% increase in enrollment. The university experienced its highest freshman rate growth since the pandemic, increasing the class size of full-time freshmen by 38% in 2025. Delta State further celebrated a 15% increase in transfer students and a 33% increase in first-time graduates.
The largest growth, percentage-wise, occurred at the Mississippi University for Women, which welcomed 8.1% more students in the first semester of the current school year than it did in 2024. While an attempt to change the university’s name ultimately proved fruitless, that did not stop campus officials from hitting the ground running to lure pupils to Columbus.
“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,” IHL Commissioner Dr. Al Rankins Jr. said. “With the support from the Mississippi Legislature and Governor Reeves, we know that our state’s universities will continue to be seen as a place where investments in time, funding, academics, and research will have a strong return.”
Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, and Southern Miss also saw an uptick in enrollment. Alcorn State University saw a slight dip in student enrollment to begin the semester with 95 fewer pupils registering for classes this year than in 2024.
