Mississippi Public Universities See Enrollment Gains, But Challenges Remain for State’s HBCUs

As Mississippi’s public university system reports an overall enrollment growth of 2.7% this fall, reaching over 81,900 students, these gains mask significant disparities that demand accountability from state education leaders. While regional institutions like Delta State University and Mississippi University for Women celebrate their largest enrollment increases in years — a testament to effective recruitment strategies — the troubling decline at Alcorn State University raises serious questions about resource allocation, program cuts, and leadership focus within our state’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Why Are Some Universities Thriving While Others Struggle? The successes at Delta State and The W...