STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State is experiencing another record enrollment this fall. The university is reporting a total of 23,721 students, an increase of 158 students from last year’s 23,563 headcount. Enrollment includes students from all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, 89 countries and all 82 counties in Mississippi.

Long known as the No. 1 college choice for Mississippi high school and community college graduates, the university is counting 14,654 in-state students, up 163 from last fall’s 14,491. This growth emphasizes the university’s commitment to Magnolia State students who graduate as Bulldogs well-equipped to serve the state’s workforce and their communities.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum pointed to the university’s innovative, hard-working faculty and staff as being the catalysts in educating the students that will be Mississippi’s future leaders.

“I am very proud that we have set a new enrollment record this fall, and that we are the only university in our state that has achieved enrollment growth for 11 of the past 12 years,” Keenum said. “I am especially pleased to see that our class of in-state, first-time students grew by 6%. It’s clear that the students and families who know us best appreciate the job we are doing and value the outstanding education and great college experience they get at Mississippi State.”

Mapping Degrees to Successful Employment

To assist MSU students in connecting their degree path to future employment opportunities, the university announced the academic online tool Major Maps this past spring. The resource is a roadmap for choosing a degree program, guiding students through a degree path and exploring career opportunities to position them for rewarding jobs.

“As part of the $4 billion annual impact our university has in Mississippi, we make a deliberate effort to align our teaching, research and engagement efforts with key statewide economic sectors. This strategic approach makes us exceptionally relevant across the state as we prepare graduates to fill high-impact jobs, pursue meaningful professional opportunities and build successful careers,” Keenum said.

For every $1 taxpayers invest into MSU, $25 in income is generated, according to an economic analysis from the university’s National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center. Findings also revealed that MSU’s activity sustains over 80,000 jobs in Mississippi, meaning the institution supports one of every 15 jobs.

Mississippi State's momentum has recently been recognized by the national education resource website Niche on its 2027 Best Colleges in America list. The university ranks as the No. 1 College in Mississippi and No. 12 Best College Campus in America. The international Association of Research Libraries also elected MSU Libraries into its membership in the spring as the only university in the state holding the prestigious distinction. And, MSU's longstanding commitment to serving the nation was acknowledged in September by the U.S. Department of War as the university became one of only five colleges receiving “Distinguished Military College” status and gaining a Corp of Cadets.

With student success in degree completion always at the forefront at MSU, the recent addition of a comprehensive, centrally located Center for Advising is delivering this support. On the first floor of Mitchell Memorial Library, this focused academic assistance experience is especially advantageous to students in the first 60 hours of their degree programs.

Along with the more than 170 degrees offered, the university is continually broadening its scope of program opportunities. A new international center for students in Italy—the institution’s first facility overseas—is opening in 2027. An MSU agreement with the country’s Pontifical University Antonianum, which will include student housing, will create MSU ROMA to advance educational exchange programs, research, internships and other initiatives. 

Accommodating Continuous Growth

With continuous increases in enrollment and programs, Mississippi State is swiftly implementing more ways to seamlessly accommodate students, innovate learning spaces and enhance the connection between campus and the City of Starkville. MSU’s College View student housing will undergo a $63.9 million expansion approved recently by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. The public-private development’s capacity will increase from the existing 656 beds to 1,183 over the next two years.

Combined public and private investments of more than $100 million in the College of Veterinary Medicine are transforming teaching, research and service facilities. Included are a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, along with overhauls to both the small animal and equine hospitals. A state-of-the-art equine treatment complex named the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center also is underway and will focus on treatment of this debilitating hoof disease.

The new Crossroads District is a development of 15 acres anchored by Hotel Madelon, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property, currently completing construction on University Drive. Crossroads also will boast faculty and staff housing, retailers, restaurants, entertainment hubs, office spaces, a 700-car parking garage, spacious green areas and more, connecting campus and city.

Other construction underway includes the new high school for the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District on the north end of MSU’s campus and the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center next to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. Several road improvements and extensions are in progress or completed, including a new roundabout that’s improving traffic flow and safety at the west campus entrance.

Moving the Needle on Rural Healthcare

Over the past five years, Mississippi State-Meridian has been revving up degree and program offerings, while helping transform East Central and West Alabama into a rural healthcare region. The newest academic program, a Physical Therapy doctoral degree, is in the process of being established with applications expected to open in fall 2028. The program is pending the Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) approval. This follows success of previously launched master’s degrees in Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, two Health Administration bachelor’s degrees, and the formation of the School of Nursing and School of Health Professions. This past spring, MSU-Meridian opened the MSU Mental and Behavioral Health Clinic and also accepted honors for its Center for Simulation, which received the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Human Simulation accreditation.

This momentum has led to plans to construct a student housing development, along with a new academic building. The growth of MSU-Meridian’s health sciences programs has been supported by The Riley Foundation and additional partnerships with the Phil Hardin Foundation, Broadhead Foundation and Montgomery Foundation. By expanding its physical footprint, aligning with regional hospitals and clinics, and partnering with the local community, MSU is playing a central role in the revitalization of the downtown.

Other Highlights

Specific Populations

—Minorities are 30% of all students 

—Veteran student headcount increased 13%

—Students, both on- and off-campus, taking distance courses increased by 6%

College and School Enrollment

For the third consecutive year, the Bagley College of Engineering is the largest academic college. BCOE offers eight programs from aerospace and chemical to electrical and mechanical. Just last month, the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering received a $10 million gift commitment from alumnus and pharmaceutical company CEO Fred P. Burke for student fellowships, scholarships, recruitment and more. Other colleges and schools posting all-time highs are the College of Architecture, Art and Design, College of Integrative Studies, College of Professional and Continuing Studies, School of Health Professions and School of Nursing.

First Time in College

—51 National Merit Scholars

—77 Valedictorians and 57 Salutatorians

—62 Student Body Presidents

—86 Star Students

—68 Eagle Scouts

  Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters.