Points of Pride

Mississippi State has had eight Barry M. Goldwater Scholars since 1999. The national scholarship recognizes academic excellence in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. (2003)

The university has produced 16 Truman Scholars and is one of 38 universities recognized by the Truman Foundation as an honor institution. The competitive Truman Scholarships are awarded to those who plan a career in public service. (2003)

An academic support program now in its fifth year was recognized in 2003 by Noel-Levitz, a higher education consulting firm. MSU's "Pathfinders"-designed to encourage students to attend class and to seek academic assistance when needed--was one of eight selections for the firm's Retention Excellence Award. (2003)

Mississippi State's fall 2002 freshman class reported an average American College Test composite score of 23.8, up from 23.5 the previous fall. More than 23 percent of the 2002 freshmen scored 28 or higher on the ACT. The freshman class also includes 35 National Merit Scholars, up from 29 the previous year. (2003)

In 2003, student groups earning first-place honors in national competition included student chapters of the Society for Human Resources Management and the Society of American Foresters, as well as the student poultry judging team. The student chapter of Pi Omega Pi, a national business education honor society, was ranked third nationally, and the dairy products judging team ranked in the top five for the 10th consecutive year. (2003)

Mississippi State ranks among the top 100 colleges and universities in the nation in awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees to African Americans. MSU ranks 58th in awarding doctoral degrees, 61st in awarding bachelor's degrees, and 90th in awarding master's degrees to African-Americans, according to Black Issues in Higher Education magazine. (2003)

Over the past four years, four biological engineering students have earned National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, worth $96,000 over three years. (2003)

Sylvia H. Byrd, assistant professor in the School of Human Sciences is one of five professors in the nation honored with the National Academic Advising Association's Outstanding Advising Award. (2003)

With almost 1,000 participants, Mississippi State has one of the largest honors programs in the nation. The program for academically talented students now is in its 35th year. (2002)

Mississippi State has one of the largest cooperative education programs in the Southeast. With more than 1,100 students enrolled, it is the 12th largest in the nation. The program is a charter member of the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education. (2002)

MSU ranks 57th among public universities in total research and development expenditures, fifth in agricultural expenditures, and 32nd in engineering expenditures. (2003)

MSU in 2002 was listed as No. 14 in supercomputing power systems among American universities by TOP 500 Supercomputer Sites, a bi-annual survey. (2003)

Mississippi State is the only university in the nation working on food safety issues in the area of catfish processing and packaging. (2002)

Mississippi State is among the nation's 100 "Baccalaureate Bargains" for 2002, according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. (2003)

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision based at Mississippi State is the only one of its kind in the nation. (2002)

About one-fourth of the teachers and administrators in Mississippi public schools hold at least one degree from Mississippi State. (2003)