Mississippi State University is rolling out major changes to the campus parking system this fall, restructuring zones, revamping prices and implementing a tier system that affects the purchase of parking permits.
The changes follow recommendations from national firm Walker Consultants and MSU’s internal analysis of parking behavior, lot density and campus growth. Walker Consultants previously worked on similar parking projects at universities like the University of Miami and Texas A&M.
Jeremiah Dumas, the executive director of MSU’s Parking and Transit Services, said the goal is to improve efficiency and time spent searching for parking spots.
“We’ve had roughly the same system in place since 2014,” Dumas said. “With all the growth and change — construction, population, roads — it became clear we needed to better manage our resources.
Smaller zones and shared lots
The most noticeable shift for students and staff will be the reduced zone sizes and the shared use of lots by commuters, residents and staff.
Dumas said that previously, large areas such as Commuter West and Commuter East sold out within hours of permit release, often leading to overcrowded lots and students having to buy permits from other zones. Now, the campus is divided into ten zones labeled with letters, with each lot assigned a number (e.g., C1 behind Griffis Hall, F4 on Sorority Row).
Each permit is tied to a specific zone, meaning drivers are only allowed to park in the zone outlined on their permit, even if nearby lots fall under the same tier. Permits will be sold starting at a one-to-one ratio with available spaces, down from previous years when MSU issued 1.6 permits per space.
The tighter ratios are meant to eliminate the scramble for spots during peak hours.
“In the past, we’d see students driving from lot to lot, unable to find a spot in their zone,” Dumas said. “Meanwhile, other commuter lots like the one beside the soccer field would be completely empty. The new system helps balance that.”
Tiered pricing and expanded options
MSU will now offer tiered permit pricing, assigning different rates to zones based on proximity to campus and desirability.
For example, commuter tier 1 permits are $275 and have a range of close options, like parking on the road by Hull Hall or in the large parking lot by McComas Hall. In contrast, although commuter tier 4 permits are only $100, they are limited to only the Thad Cochran Research Park north of campus or the RecPlex south of campus.
While this and other updates will bring fee increases, such as an additional $5 for residential game day passes, Dumas said the changes are still cost-conscious.
“We’ve always taken pride in being one of the lowest-cost institutions in the SEC when it comes to parking,” Dumas said.
Even with the price increases from the new tiered parking system, MSU parking rates remain lower than equivalent permits at the University of Mississippi.
Although residents and commuters may now park in the same lots, residential permits still cost more. Dumas said the pricing differences reflect usage patterns.
“Residents use their space 24/7. They’re parked there overnight, on weekends and throughout the week,” he said. “Commuters and staff, on the other hand, come and go. The higher price accounts for the increased time a resident vehicle occupies the space.”
Waitlist and flexibility
Another significant shift comes with the university’s new waitlist structure. If a zone fills up, students can join waitlists for multiple zones, with permit upgrades that will be processed throughout the academic year.
Dumas said the one-to-one parking spot to permit ratio is flexible and will change based on observation averages during the first days of school. If a parking lot consistently has empty spots, the ratio will be bumped up, allowing for people to be taken off the waitlist.
“Last year, we moved over 1,000 students off the waitlists in Commuter East and West alone,” Dumas said.
Students who move to a higher-tier zone after the semester starts will pay a prorated fee difference that will be proportionate to the time spent without the permit.
College View confusion
During the spring semester, there were rumors that MSU had plans to acquire the parking rights for College View, the MSU-affiliated apartment complex northwest of campus. Dumas confirmed that these rumors are no longer true.
“There was a plan for MSU to take over College View’s parking and make it part of our permanent zones, but that agreement fell through at the last minute,” Dumas said. “College View residents will continue parking through their own system and can purchase commuter permits from us just like any other commuter.”
Permit release dates and purchase information
Permits will become available on a staggered basis at myparking.msstate.edu.
- Staff – July 9
- Residents and graduate students – July 16
- Undergraduate commuters – July 23
Dumas emphasized the importance of acting quickly, especially for new residents hoping to get a preferred lot near their dorm.
“You’ll be guaranteed a resident permit, but not necessarily in your first-choice lot unless you get on it early,” Dumas said. “The system will still get you close, but students need to take advantage of their purchase windows.”