Ole Miss reports record enrollment growth, record applications

The University of Mississippi has experienced a 31% rise in enrollment over the past five years, according to Chancellor Glenn Boyce. He told the Mississippi Institutions for Higher Learning Board last week that applications for the upcoming fall semester also set a new record, surpassing 46,500 submissions.

Boyce highlighted that Ole Miss’s enrollment growth continues despite nationwide concerns about declining birth rates and an impending enrollment decline. He noted that from 2020 to 2025, total enrollment increased by 31%, with particular gains among minority students. “Our minority enrollment growth since 2020 has grown by 31 percent,” Boyce said.

The university currently has about 12,700 students taking over 250 courses during the summer. The institution graduated approximately 6,800 students this year. Its six-year graduation rate is 70.3%, higher than the national average by 9.2 percentage points, while the four-year graduation rate stands at 64%, about 10 points above the national average.

Boyce emphasized the importance of faster graduation rates in reducing student debt. “It’s better if students get out in four years and keep moving,” he said. The university is also exploring new programs, including adding Russian language courses and plans to introduce investment banking courses to prepare students for careers on Wall Street.

The chancellor also addressed concerns about online sports betting, noting that the Center on Collegiate Gambling is working to prevent young people from falling into trouble. Additionally, the Mississippi Institutions for Higher Learning approved new initiatives at other state universities, including a nursing leadership institute at Mississippi State and a new aviation college at Delta State. Mississippi Valley State received approval for a new business management degree, and Southern Miss introduced several new academic programs.

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