STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State today announced an enrollment of 17,824, a 4.6 percent increase from the previous year and the highest in the university's history. The university last year announced it had for the first time surpassed the 17,000-mark.</p>
"The strength of our academic programs, innovative leadership opportunities for students and new on-campus residential experiences are creating an unparalleled interest in what Mississippi State offers," said MSU Interim President Vance H. Watson.</p>
"This is an exciting time in the life of the university, and we're committed to providing the best educational experience possible for each student who chooses to become a part of our MSU family."</p>
Fall enrollment included a record freshman class of 2,489, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year, and a Meridian Campus enrollment of 782.</p>
The College of Arts and Sciences continues to be the university's largest, with more than 4,000 students, followed by the colleges of education, business and engineering.</p>
"We're very proud that our student retention also continues to increase and that our faculty members are committed to helping students achieve academic success and stay in school," Watson said.</p>
Freshman-to-sophomore retention increased to 84.5 percent, up from 83.4 percent, and an all-time high.</p>
Current enrollment includes:</p>
--A student body that is 20 percent African-American.</p>
--76 percent of students are from Mississippi.</p>
--A freshman ACT average of 23.6.</p>
--Some 51 percent of students are male, and 49 percent are female.</p>
--A graduation rate that is approaching 60 percent.</p>
"We're particularly proud of our Shackouls Honors College, which has a fall enrollment of 1,317 students, including just over 500 freshmen," Watson said. "Among those students, the average ACT score is 29.6."</p>
"The strength of our academic programs, innovative leadership opportunities for students and new on-campus residential experiences are creating an unparalleled interest in what Mississippi State offers," said MSU Interim President Vance H. Watson.</p>
"This is an exciting time in the life of the university, and we're committed to providing the best educational experience possible for each student who chooses to become a part of our MSU family."</p>
Fall enrollment included a record freshman class of 2,489, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year, and a Meridian Campus enrollment of 782.</p>
The College of Arts and Sciences continues to be the university's largest, with more than 4,000 students, followed by the colleges of education, business and engineering.</p>
"We're very proud that our student retention also continues to increase and that our faculty members are committed to helping students achieve academic success and stay in school," Watson said.</p>
Freshman-to-sophomore retention increased to 84.5 percent, up from 83.4 percent, and an all-time high.</p>
Current enrollment includes:</p>
--A student body that is 20 percent African-American.</p>
--76 percent of students are from Mississippi.</p>
--A freshman ACT average of 23.6.</p>
--Some 51 percent of students are male, and 49 percent are female.</p>
--A graduation rate that is approaching 60 percent.</p>
"We're particularly proud of our Shackouls Honors College, which has a fall enrollment of 1,317 students, including just over 500 freshmen," Watson said. "Among those students, the average ACT score is 29.6."</p>
