Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--In its annual survey of the endowment rankings for more than 740 institutions, a national organization is ranking Mississippi State 35th in the percentage of increase from the previous year.
The National Association of College and University Business Officers conducts the study, which is considered the primary source of institutional endowment data in the United States, said Dennis A. Prescott, vice president for external affairs.
Mississippi State's 2005 endowment was reported at more than $211 million, up 23 percent from the $172 million in 2004.
"The university continues to generate significant financial commitment from alumni and friends in the form of outright gifts and pledge payments to endowed funds," Prescott said. "These funds, coupled with an 8.4 percent endowment return, account for the 2005 NACUBO rankings."
He said that the contributions provide a direct benefit to students, with about half of the 128-year-old land-grant institution's endowment earmarked specifically for scholarships.
Mississippi State currently is in the midst of a $400 million capital campaign officially titled "State of the Future." Scheduled to conclude in 2008, the effort, to date, has received commitments of more than $277 million in gifts and pledges.
Donors contributed more than $56 million in FY 2005 alone, Prescott observed.
MSU also recently took a 124-place jump in annual rankings compiled by the national Chronicle of Philanthropy. On a list of the nation's top 400 charities, the university is ranked 262--which makes it the top Mississippi charity.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, telephone Mr. Prescott at (662) 325-9306.