Fall student enrollment increased 2.9 percent at Mississippi's eight public universities, preliminary figures show.
The unduplicated figures - those showing students counted once - showed 69,315 enrolled this fall compared to 67,380 the same time a year ago.
Mississippi Valley State University showed a 3.3 percent increase in unduplicated enrollment, from 3,506 to 3,621.
Dr. Roy Hudson, Valley's vice president for University Relations, said the numbers were expected and are encouraging. "That is very positive for us. That shows for six years in a row that we've had positive growth. That is a very, very positive trend."
Valley's duplicate enrollment, of students who attend multiple campuses, increased by 4.6 percent from 4,009 to 4,196. "Whichever way you count it, we have an enrollment increase," he said.
Delta State University's unduplicated numbers increased by 2.3 percent from 3,902 to 3,990 while it duplicated numbers rose from 4,034 to 4,145.
Mississippi University for Women had the largest percentage increase in students among the eight universities. Enrollment at MUW jumped 8.9 percent, from 2,048 in fall 2003 to 2,231, according to unduplicated numbers the state College Board released Monday.
MUW President Claudia Limbert said more students are enrolling because the university is doing a better job telling its story.
"MUW offers the equivalent of a private school education at a public school price," Limbert said of the faculty, programs, small classes and attention to students. "We feel we're telling our story better than a few years ago and that people are listening."
This is the ninth year in a row the university system has experienced an increase.
"The numbers suggest that Mississippians realize the benefit of a college degree and are taking advantage of the education opportunities our universities offer," Higher Education Commissioner David Potter said in a statement. "Of all the states in the nation, Mississippi has the highest percentage of students who stay in state to obtain a college degree."
Hudson said the increase in enrollment has not been adversely affected by three years of tuition increases at Valley. He said that additional tuition increases would likely hurt the school's growing enrollment. "Somewhere along the line that catches up with you." He is hoping the state Legislature will address funding for higher education in January.
"If you don't get additional resources, you'll outstrip your resources," he said.
Valley is meeting the increase with the hiring of adjunct professors, Hudson himself is teaching a survey class on world history. "In classes where I had 25 students, I now have 40," he said.
While financial aid programs have helped somewhat with the increase in tuition, he admitted, "Even with full financial aid, some of our students had a balance between what financial aid paid for and what their bills were," he said.
Jackson State had the second largest percentage enrollment increase, 6.9 percent. Enrollment swelled from 7,815 students in fall 2003 to 8,351 this fall.
Mississippi State is the only university to show a decline. The number of unduplicated students dipped 1.5 percent, from 16,173 last fall to 15,934 this fall.
MSU spokesman Joe Farris said enrollment is lagging because fewer students are returning because of the record number of graduating classes over the last two years.
At the University of Mississippi, unduplicated enrollment was 14,491 this fall compared to 13,804 a year ago.
At other colleges:
- Alcorn State, unduplicated figures were 3,441 for 2004 and 3,309 last year.
- UM Medical Center, 2,003 and 1,773.
- University of Southern Mississippi, 15,253 and 15,050.
Duplicated numbers reflect students counted more than once if they take classes at multiple locations. Duplicated numbers help assure officials that facilities are equipped to serve students at main and off-campus sites.
Overall, duplicated figures showed a 3.2 percent increase in enrollment.
