Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Freshman students again selected Mississippi State University as their "college of choice" for the fall 2013 semester.
First-time freshman enrollment at the state's flagship research university has reached 3,156, an increase of nearly 10 percent over last year's number of 2,894.
Overall enrollment at Mississippi State remained stable, continuing to exceed 20,000 and currently standing at 20,161. Also, the university boasted its highest-ever average ACT score of 23.94 for entering freshmen.
"I'm excited that we begin the fall 2013 semester with a record freshman enrollment and the highest average ACT scores in the university's history," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. "The record number of freshmen enrolled reflects the growing realization that MSU offers students and their families the highest return on investment in Mississippi higher education and that a degree from MSU affords our graduates the highest average starting salaries in Mississippi."
Graduate school enrollment showed a decline, with a key factor being continued reductions in funding at the federal level.
"The decision of the federal government to systematically reduce available federal research funding also directly reduces the number of graduate assistantship opportunities," said Keenum. "Despite those challenges, MSU remains Mississippi's premier research university and continues to serve the needs of our state and nation."
Additionally, Keenum noted growth in enrollment in MSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (up 10.87 percent) and College of Engineering (up 5.54 percent):
--2,152 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and
--3,522 in the College of Engineering.
Other enrollment information includes these numbers posted by the remaining colleges:
--676 in the College of Architecture, Art & Design;
--5,115 in the College of Arts & Sciences;
--2,555 in the College of Business;
--3,718 in the College of Education;
--530 in the College of Forest Resources; and
--431 in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Mississippi State University is online at www.msstate.edu.