Mississippi College in Clinton is a private Christian school that is affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, and it is offers liberal arts or science degrees to its students. The student body consists of about 5,000 co-educational attendees from 40 states and 30 countries. The college was established in 1826, which makes it the oldest college in the state and the second oldest Baptist university in America. It offers 80 types of course work, 14 graduate degree programs and doctorate degrees in law and education.
Mississippi State University began as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, and it was created with a land grant that was certified by Mississippi governing body on February 28, 1878. Today's university offers these programs and others from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Engineering. The Colleges of Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine also offer degrees in various majors. Students at Mississippi State are also involved in research and athletics, but most of all, they are part of the school's rich history. Generations of graduates stand behind the seal of Mississippi State University promoting learning, service and research. The vast campus has many monuments, buildings and landmarks that help to reinforce this concept.
Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena was originally called the Mississippi Vocational College in 1946, and it was mostly a school for training teachers. As the school grew and its name changed, it began offering liberal arts and science degrees in 1964. Today's university offers master's programs in environmental health, elementary education, criminal justice, business administration, special education, rural public policy and teaching. It is also the youngest of all Historical Black Colleges and Universities--or HBCH-- in the country, and it provides vast educational opportunities for state and out-of-state residents.
The University of Southern Mississippi has dual campuses, and it also has branches and research areas in other parts of the state. The college offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in five degree-granting colleges including Arts and Letters, Business, Education and Psychology, Health and Science and Technology. The school's population is diverse with nearly 17,000 students, and they come from every state as well as 70 foreign countries. Another important part of the college's notoriety involves its athletic competitions. It has 16 sport programs at the Division I level, and it is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.