Contact: Joe Farris
Mississippi State is welcoming the most academically talented class of new freshmen in the history of the state's largest university.
The newcomers boast a record high average ACT score of 23.8, up from 23.5 last fall, and count 38 National Merit Scholars among their number, up from 29 last year. MSU led the state's universities in both categories last year.
More than 23 percent of this year's freshmen scored 28 or higher on the ACT. The national average ACT score this year is 21.8 and the average for Mississippi is 19.8.
MSU's first-time, full-time freshmen reported a typical high school grade-point average of 3.17 on college prep courses, a slight increase from last year.
The number of African-Americans in the freshman class increased by 9 percent from last year, to 321. More than 18 percent of the freshmen are African-American, and 71 percent are Mississippi residents.
"Our efforts to keep the state's best students in Mississippi clearly are paying off," said Interim President J. Charles Lee. "National Merit Scholars and other top performers have their choice of prestigious universities across the country. We're pleased that growing numbers of them are finding the challenges and opportunities they need right here at Mississippi State."
In past years, a majority of Mississippi's National Merit Scholars, who represent the top 1 percent of college students nationwide, have chosen out-of-state colleges and universities. MSU officials hope to see that streak end this year when final figures are available.
Last year, Mississippi produced 127 National Merit Scholars and the state's public and private colleges and universities enrolled a total of 60, including the 29 at MSU, which is among the top 10 percent of the nation's public institutions in National Merit enrollments.
The important freshman retention rate also is up slightly at MSU, with more than 80 percent of last year's freshmen returning for their sophomore year.
The College of Engineering, where freshman enrollment has increased by 25 percent from last year, attracted the largest share of this year's preliminary headcount of 1,768 freshmen and also claims the highest average ACT score, at 27.4. Biological engineering and mechanical engineering are the most popular choices among the 10 bachelor's degree programs available to the 434 new College of Engineering freshmen, about 23 percent of whom are women.
Total enrollment at the university this fall is about 16,600, with the official preliminary headcount to be determined on Sept. 10.