STARKVILLE, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Mississippi State enrollment reached a new record this fall with 23,721 students, the university reported. That is 158 more students than last year.
MSU also shared plans for new health care programs and new buildings in Meridian.
More students from Mississippi
All of the growth came from inside the state. The university counted 14,654 students from Mississippi, up 163 from last fall. Meanwhile, the number from outside Mississippi fell by five, to 9,067.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum gave credit to faculty and staff.
“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.
He also pointed to new students from Mississippi.
“I am especially pleased to see that our class of in-state, first-time students grew by 6%,” Keenum said.
How the numbers compare
However, this year’s gain was smaller than last year’s. MSU added 413 students in fall 2025.
Statewide, the count held about steady. The state college board reported 81,771 students this fall. Last fall, it was 81,961.
Ole Miss is still the state’s largest school. It has 28,960 students this fall, counting its medical center. That is up 555 from last year.
What it means for Meridian
MSU-Meridian is working to add a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Applications are set to open in fall 2028. Then, the first class of 50 students would start in fall 2029.
However, two groups still need to approve the program. These groups check that schools meet set standards. For more information, call MSU-Meridian at (601) 696-2320.
Also, MSU says it plans to build student housing and a new class building in Meridian. The university did not share a cost or a start date.
In addition, a new mental health clinic in Meridian held its ribbon cutting this spring. The clinic is on the third floor of the Regions building downtown. It takes Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance. It also has a sliding fee scale for people with little or no insurance.
Meanwhile, the MSU Center for Simulation in Meridian earned a major accreditation in June. Students there practice how to care for patients. MSU says it is the first center of its kind in Mississippi to earn the honor.
Local groups have helped this growth. They include the Riley, Phil Hardin, Broadhead and Montgomery foundations.
New projects in Starkville
MSU is also building to keep up with its growth. A $63.9 million project will add beds at College View student housing. It will grow from 656 beds to 1,183. A private developer will pay for it, and work is expected to wrap up by August 2028.
Hotel Madelon is also going up on University Drive. It will anchor the new 15 acre Crossroads District, which will link the campus and the city.
Rankings and other news
The college website Niche ranked MSU the top college in Mississippi for 2027. Niche also ranked MSU No. 12 on its list of best college campuses. Ole Miss ranked No. 9 on that same list.
In September, the U.S. Department of War named MSU one of five Distinguished Military Colleges. As a result, MSU will start a Corps of Cadets. Cadets will get priority for jobs as military officers.
A study by MSU’s own research center put the school’s yearly impact on the state at $3.9 billion. The study also said MSU supports more than 80,000 jobs in Mississippi. That is about one of every 15 jobs in the state.
MSU also shared a few facts about this year’s students. Minority students make up 30% of all students. The number of veterans rose 13%. For the third year in a row, the Bagley College of Engineering is the largest college at MSU.
(Photo by Emily Grace McCall)
