On September 10, the Institute of Higher Learning made a press release titled enrollment at ‘Mississippi universities remains at a steady 80,000.’ According to the data released, Mississippi State University enrolled 20,138 students this year in comparison to 20,161 last year. Meanwhile, University of Mississippi increased by 3.6 percent adding 805 more students than last year taking their total enrollment for fall 2014 at 23,096. 
The press release said, “Approximately 80,000 students are building a betwand the state by pursuing a college degree at one of Mississippi’s eight public universities. Preliminary fall 2014 enrollment figures show an increase of 871 students from fall 2013 numbers. This represents a 1.1 percent increase across the system.”
The data was taken from enrollment figures from eight universities across the state: MSU, University of Mississippi, Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University and Mississippi University for Women.