Mississippi universities have seen significant enrollment increases -- with over two thousand more students in the university system this year compared to last.
Elise Catrion Gregg
Administrators look at financial aid for universities with increased enrollment
“Mississippi’s universities continue to set a high standard for our students in terms of value and price, and these enrollment figures reflect the confidence that families from around the state and beyond have in our university system,” said Dr. Al Rankins Jr., commissioner of higher education, in a statement.
Enrollment increased at every public university except Alcorn State.
The Mississippi University for Women saw the biggest increase by percent -- 8.1% -- while Ole Miss saw the greatest increase by actual students; about 1,200 more this semester compared to last fall.
At the same time, that means education administrators are looking at how to handle new students and the financial aid many of them will need.
Jaime Missimer is the president of the Mississippi Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and director of financial aid at Pearl River Community College.
At PRCC, she says the expansion of programs has led to more students.
"There's a lot of students who are wanting to take online classes, so that has grown a lot," she said. "And for us, we've added several new career technical programs that students want to enroll in."
When it comes to financial aid, Missimer says they fortunately have good processes in place to keep up with increased enrollment. When it comes to scholarship dollars, she said they'd always like to have more.
"As we go forward, we would love see increases because as tuition increases, that Pell grant is staying the same," Missimer said.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, public universities and colleges will see some changes to financial aid, although many of those changes have to do with student loans specifically.
Missimer says they'll have to wait and see when it comes to the effect on Mississippi higher education.
"That's usually just a perpetual challenge for financial aid administrators is just the constant change and shifting priorities at the federal level that we just have to deal with," she said.
Around 30,000 students in Mississippi receive financial aid through at least one state-supported program. Right now, there's over 80,000 students enrolled in the state's four-year universities.