The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning approved a $70 million increase in state funding for the 2027 fiscal year, according to board members. The budget includes allocations for staff pay raises, capital projects, and other expenses.
Legislators allocated $12 million for $2,000 salary increases for professors and adjunct faculty. John Pearce, Senior Commissioner for Finance, said the funding also includes $40 million for capital expenses. Of that, $6.5 million will go toward a road project near IHL facilities, with the remaining $33.5 million distributed among campuses based on a formula considering square footage and staff headcount.
The salary increases are aimed at aligning faculty pay with regional peers. Pearce noted that the raises are discretionary and can be pro-rated at each institution’s discretion. The funds also cover increases for the state’s retirement system and health plans.
Funding for each university varies due to differences in employment numbers and the distribution formula. Additionally, the state increased student financial aid by $2.1 million to meet rising demand. The University of Mississippi Medical Center received an extra $3.7 million, which covers pay raises, capital expenses, and opioid settlement funds.
Legislators also provided $75 million for bond projects through state funds, avoiding the use of general obligation bonds. UMMC was allocated $100 million for its cancer center, part of its total $247 million state funding package.
Several universities received approval to raise tuition and fees without the usual 30-day review process. Jackson State University proposed a $198 increase to its resident tuition, bringing it to $9,408. Mississippi State University requested a $391 increase, reaching $10,845, while the University of Mississippi’s tuition will rise by $288 to $10,278. The University of Southern Mississippi proposed a $400 increase, totaling $10,684. UMMC’s tuition will increase by $317 to $10,897.
Room rates are also changing at some institutions. Jackson State University will decrease its double occupancy rate by $2,944 to $6,778, citing lease expirations for its leased facilities. Ole Miss increased its rate by $390, reaching $7,490. Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University will keep their rates unchanged.
Pearce explained that the room rate adjustments reflect leasing arrangements and aim to align costs with peer institutions. Overall, the board’s decisions affect tuition, fees, and housing costs across Mississippi’s public universities.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
