MC logs record enrollment for fall 2023
Special to The Clinton Courier
Mississippi College President Blake Thompson is pictured with the largest incoming class of students in Mississippi College’s history.
Mississippi College has announced record enrollment on the Clinton campus this fall. A total of 1,025 new freshman and transfer students have been admitted to Mississippi College. This brings the campus enrollment totals to 2,677 undergraduate students and 715 graduate students.
According to Michael Wright, dean of enrollment management at MC, that number represents the largest class of first-year students in the Christian University’s 198-year history.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever eclipsed 1,000 new incoming undergraduate students,” Wright said. “The Speed Scholarship has been vitally important to making this class the stellar class that it is. It had an overwhelmingly positive response in the market when it was announced.”
The Leland Speed Scholarship provides full tuition for all admitted high school or undergraduate transfer students who are residents of Mississippi and agree to live on campus. All federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships earned by Speed Scholars can also be applied to their remaining balances.
The generous scholarship legacy provided by the estate of the University’s longtime trustee and one of MC’s most beloved benefactors is unique – no other institution of higher learning in the state offers full-tuition scholarships for all qualified students from Mississippi.
While visiting another university during her junior year in high school, Darby Renfro mentioned to her mother that she was going to end up at Mississippi College.
“I didn’t know at the time how it was going to happen,” the new freshman from Grenada said, “but I knew the Lord was leading me to MC, and He had a plan for me here.”
A friend sent her an article about the Speed Scholarship, which turned out to be the avenue for her entrance into the Christian university.
“The scholarship greatly impacted me. Without it, I probably would not be here today,” Renfro said.
A talented high school athlete, Sidney Stegall committed to join the MC Cross Country and Track Program last year. The incoming freshman from Columbus had not heard of the Speed Scholarship until he attended Preview Day at MC.
“The Speed Scholarship, along with my athletic aid, has covered all of my costs at Mississippi College,” Stegall said. “I am exceedingly grateful for the faithfulness of God through the generosity of Mr. Leland Speed.” Now, I can even pay for my assignment when needed, which lets me focus more on training and competing. This support means I can dedicate myself fully to the sport without extra stress.”
As powerful of a recruiting tool as the Speed Scholarship is – particularly for those living in Mississippi – students flock to Mississippi College for many other reasons, too. The university boasts a friendly environment in the small-town setting of Clinton; small class sizes and a 16-to-1 student-faculty ratio and competitive athletic programs in the Division II Gulf South Conference. In addition to offering more than eighty undergraduate majors to choose from, plus more than fifty graduate areas of study, two doctoral programs, a law school, a physician assistant program, and the state’s only art education program, MC is also ranked among the finest colleges in the nation for academics, Christian education and value.
“The most attractive thing to prospective students is and always has been our Christian distinction,” Wright said. “When students prioritize academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ, they want to be here. The desire for Christian higher education has always existed in the market. The Speed Scholarship just lowered the financial barrier to Mississippi residents being able to access it.”
Measures have been taken throughout the campus community to accommodate the unprecedented numbers at Mississippi College, but Wright said the excitement in welcoming the new students has far outweighed any perceived inconveniences.“It’s electric around here,” he said. “All of the buzz I’ve heard has been positive. The renovated residence halls are housing some very happy students. Students and professors are beginning to build lifelong relationships. The new and improved Caf has fed some approving food lovers. The clubs and tribes have seen record numbers of sign-ups for their recruitment process.” “All of this is key to Phase Two of the Speed Scholarship. Our best spokespeople are happy students, and so far, we’ve got some very positive marketing happening.”
“I have met many Speed Scholars, and most of them are extremely grateful for the opportunity they have been provided,” Stegall said. “The Speed Scholarship further reinforced the call from God that MC was where I was called to be in school.”
Whether the number of new students at MC continues to increase, Wright said the quality of the educational programs offered at Mississippi College will always draw students.
“Mr. Speed understood the value of Christian higher education. He also understood the importance of Christian higher education. The Speed Scholarship removes the biggest barriers that Mississippi residents have to access premium Christian higher education,” said Wright. “The Christian distinction has always been desired in the market. Mr. Speed has made it affordable, and higher education will never be the same now.”
