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Mississippi State University, founded in 1878, is a comprehensive land-grant university classified by the Carnegie Commission as a Research University (high research activity). The University has a statewide enrollment of almost 18,000 students (13,991 undergraduate, 3,537 graduate, and 296 professional in fall 2008, for a total of 17,824), the largest in Mississippi. Established as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, the University has traditional strengths in agriculture, engineering, and science but now is a comprehensive university with a diverse array of programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Mississippi State University significantly impacts the economic development and well-being of the state of Mississippi through its extensive research programs and its statewide network of agricultural research and extension centers, branch stations, and county offices, with a presence in every county of the state.
Mississippi State University has more than 1,100 full-time faculty members and more than 4,000 total full-time employees, and a total operating budget of nearly $700 million. The main campus and agricultural research property comprise about 4,200 acres of land.
Three-fourths of Mississippi State University students are from Mississippi, but every state and more than 70 countries are represented in the student body. About 78% of the students are undergraduates, 49% are women, and over 20% are African American. Almost one-third of the graduate student enrollment consists of minority (15.1%) and international (16.5%) students. The nearly 300 campus student organizations include 29 social fraternities and sororities, Army and Air Force ROTC, and a variety of intramural and club sports. MSU is a member of the highly competitive Southeastern Conference for intercollegiate athletics, offering seven intercollegiate sports for men and nine for women.
Mississippi State University continues to build on its history as "The People's University." The University has posted four consecutive years of enrollment growth. There was a 5% overall increase in students in 2007 and a 4.6% enrollment growth in fall 2008, moving MSU to its largest enrollment ever, and additional growth is anticipated in the fall 2009. The freshman to sophomore retention rate is 84%, while the six-year graduation rate is 60%, highest among state universities in Mississippi.
Mississippi State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; 404-679-4501) to award baccalaureate, specialist, master's, and doctoral degrees. Numerous professional programs are nationally accredited by the appropriate bodies. The University offers 80 majors and 124 concentrations for bachelor's degrees, and 135 doctoral, master's, specialist, and bachelor's/master's degree programs through its schools and colleges:
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- College of Architecture, Art, and Design
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business, including the Adkerson School of Accountancy
- College of Education
- Bagley College of Engineering, including the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
- College of Forest Resources
- College of Veterinary Medicine
In addition to its main campus in Starkville, Mississippi State University operates a degree-granting campus in Meridian, where both undergraduate and graduate programs are offered to approximately 700 students. The campus includes the Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts in downtown Meridian, which includes a fully restored 1890 opera house and an adjoining conference center. Riley Center performing arts programs attract 60,000 visitors a year, and conferences and educational programs draw another 15,000. MSU also has a program center at the Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis near the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In cooperation with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Research and Development Center, the Bagley College of Engineering offers the Master of Science degree to qualified students in Vicksburg.
In recent years, the University has launched several new "learning communities" and other first-year experience programs, including the highly successful "Day One Residential Leadership Learning Community" for entering freshmen. The University has also built and opened four new residence halls in the highly popular Zacharias Village, featuring 1,200 bed spaces in the best "state-of-the-art" residence halls in the state and region. Included in this "village" is the new home for the Shackouls Honors College: a 350-bed residence hall that also includes offices, classrooms, labs, programming space, and a "coffee house." Over $200 million in capital improvements have been completed in the last three years, including: a new agricultural and biological engineering building; expansion of the high performance computing co-laboratory; the "Seal Family Business Complex" addition to McCool Hall, which houses the College of Business; a bookstore and welcome center; complete renovation of the Colvard Student Union; a band and choral rehearsal building; and a new athletic academic advising center.
The Mississippi State University Libraries support the academic and research needs of the University and comprise five separate libraries, including the main Mitchell Memorial Library, the Architecture Library, the Veterinary Medicine Library, the School of Architecture Jackson Center Library, and the MSU Meridian Campus Library. Offering the latest in technology through instructional media and digital services, the libraries' collections include over two million volumes, over 57,000 serials and journals (print and electronic), and a number of impressive research and special collections.
The University's academic mission is also accomplished through the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, and the Division of Academic Outreach and Continuing Education. Mississippi State awarded 3,728 degrees in the 2008-2009 academic year, including 123 doctoral degrees and 67 professional degrees.
Achieving excellence in research as a nationally recognized land-grant institution is a high strategic priority for the Office of Research and Economic Development and Mississippi State University. The University's research programs place important focus on developing new technologies across multiple disciplines. As a comprehensive university, MSU achieves scholarly excellence in all areas, including the arts and humanities. External awards for research and service totaled $146 million for FY 2009. Agriculture and engineering continue to be the University's major research strengths. MSU ranks 58th among public institutions in research and development expenditures for science and engineering, based on an FY 2007 total of $206 million. The university is 5th in the country in agricultural sciences research expenditures and 34th in engineering research expenditures.
Research at MSU has a direct impact on the state's economy and competitiveness in an increasingly global market, as well as providing tangible benefits for students. Research programs at Mississippi State have a direct link to industries locating in north Mississippi, particularly defense and automotive industries. Federal agencies such as NASA, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Department of Justice, the National Science Foundation and others continue to invest in Mississippi State research programs that continue to have an important impact. Achieving "very high research activity" designation by the Carnegie Commission is a priority goal for Mississippi State University. The University continues to receive record private support. In December 2008, the University concluded its "State of the Future" capital campaign with more than $462 million in gifts and pledges. Contributions for FY 2009 totaled approximately $61.5 million. MSU is committed to expanding its partnerships with business and industry, communities, local governments, and public education to promote economic development and increased opportunities for the state's citizens. The Industrial Outreach Services unit, established in 2004, has served over 100 small-to medium-sized manufacturing businesses while the Mississippi State Community Action Team, established in 2006, has provided services to more than 30 municipalities and communities throughout the state.
Mississippi State University forms part of a cohesive town-university community with the City of Starkville, population about 24,000, located in the eastern part of north-central Mississippi, 125 miles northeast of Jackson. The University and the community enjoy excellent relationships and have collaborated on a number of economic development initiatives and university related events. As a result, Starkville is entering its fifth consecutive year of allocating a portion of its food and beverage tax revenues for support of student-originated programs.
MSU is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.