Enrollment has grown by 10.8 percent at Jackson State University over the past three years, the largest increase of any state-assisted college or university, according to figures released by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). With an enrollment of 9,802 students, JSU is now the fourth-largest HBCU in the country.
When Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers came to Jackson State University as president in 2010 the school was ranked eighth-largest among HBCUs nationally.
“Our freshman class is at an all-time high of 1,252 students. This represents a 4.7 percent increase over last year’s number of 1,196. We are really excited to report that the number of non-resident first-time freshmen has grown by 17.1 percent since last year,” said Dr. Nicole Evans, vice president for enrollment management and institutional research at Jackson State. Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Missouri are the top five “feeder states” for JSU.
“Our enrollment growth is the result of hard work by our recruiters and admissions team and the efforts of faculty and staff, alumni and JSU supporters all across the country. President Meyers has set the bar high, and we push every day to tell the Jackson State story and sell the value of the JSU experience,” Evans said.
Dr. James C. Renick, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, added, “This is our third year of solid enrollment growth at Jackson State University. We are delighted that increasing numbers of students recognize the benefits derived from a JSU education.”
Glenn F. Boyce, commissioner of higher education, said that record enrollment statewide of 81,132 students indicates that students understand the value of higher education and the impact it will have on their futures.
The figure surpasses the previous record of 81,022 in fall 2012.
Four of five colleges at Jackson State report enrollment growth with the College of Public Service posting the largest increase at 9.9 percent. A 9 percent growth rate was tallied for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology and a healthy 7.8 percent increase is being reported for the College of Business. The College of Liberal Arts reports growth to be 5.4 percent over last year. The College of Education and Human Development reported growth in undergraduate programs in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education and Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
The university’s office of Institutional Research reports that graduate programs in Education Administration and Supervision, Early Childhood Education and Sports Science showed increases, Evans said.
Fall 2015 enrollment breakdowns for other schools in the state and their percentage of change over the past three years:
- Alcorn State University, 3,594 enrolled, down 5.2 percent
- Delta State University, 3,460 enrolled, down 1.2 percent
- Mississippi State University, 20,873, up 2.5 percent
- Mississippi University for Women, 2,676, up 1.3 percent
- Mississippi Valley State University, 2,310, 0 percent
- University of Mississippi, 23,838, up 10.3 percent
- University of Southern Mississippi, 14,579, down 10.9 percent
Source: Jackson State University Communications
