To our alumni and friends,
As our state’s flagship institution, the University of Mississippi strives to set the standard in all that we do. It’s an expectation that permeates every aspect of Ole Miss — from academics to athletics to providing exceptional experiences that propel our students on their paths to building their legacies and leaving their mark on the world. This mindset is expected by our 130,000-plus alumni, nearly 22,000 students, and 12,000-plus employees. In that spirit, I’m thrilled to highlight several recent achievements that reflect our university’s continued momentum. I know these developments will deepen your pride in this extraordinary place.
Enrollment is up!
Overall enrollment is up. Transfer enrollment is up. Graduate and professional student enrollment is up. UMMC enrollment is up. Freshman enrollment is up BIG. With gains among both in-state and out-of-state freshmen, we posted the largest increase in the number of freshmen from one fall to the next in university history with our freshman class totaling 3,584 — an 18% increase over 2020! In a year when higher ed enrollment dropped 3.5% nationally, we’ve bucked the trend with overall enrollment up nearly 1% to 21,856. And we expect this trajectory to continue as undergraduate applications for next year are up 32%.
When students enroll at Ole Miss, they are persisting more than ever. Our historically high freshman retention rate this fall is 88.2% — 15 percentage points higher than the national average. Our incredible faculty and staff deserve a tremendous thanks for their contributions to how our students have persevered and thrived during this time. After nearly two years of change and uncertainty prompted by COVID-19, we’re ecstatic about this measure because it means more of our students are closer to walking across the stage at Commencement. We are grateful to our alumni and friends who support our recruitment efforts and enable us to attract high achieving students across the country. Be sure to read the entire news story for all the details of this great news.
Ole Miss remains the highest-ranked university in Mississippi!
According to U.S. News & World Report, we jumped 10 spots from last year to No. 67 among public universities, which places us among the top 10% of public universities nationally. We are also the state leader and in the top 5% of public universities nationally for Best Value, a critical indicator for our students and their families. We have been cited as a Best for Vets among public universities for our support of military-connected students with U.S. News ranking us #64 nationally and Military Times ranking us #21 nationally. See the news story.Ole Miss grads are the state’s best at finding and keeping a job!
These developments signify who we are now, and who we are becoming for our students and our future as an institution. As some of our best and most enthusiastic supporters and advocates, you do so much for Ole Miss and we’re grateful for all that you do. Your involvement, input, support, and advocacy makes a more meaningful experience for everyone and elevates our entire university. And, we can’t wait to see you in Oxford this weekend when ESPN’s “College GameDay” comes to town to see our Rebels take on the Aggies!
HOTTY TODDY!
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
