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Mississippi College is a private, co-educational, comprehensive Christian university of liberal arts and sciences located in Clinton, Mississippi. Established in 1826, Mississippi College is the oldest institution of higher learning and the largest private university in the state of Mississippi. Founded as the Hampstead Academy, the new school faced many challenges and difficulties during its yearly years, yet came out victorious in the end. By the 1920s the institution had grown into a nationally accredited school and continued to thrive, obtaining new facilities and enjoying a growing enrollment. Affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, the College’s vision is “to be known as a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.”
Academic Programs
Mississippi College’s mission is to provide “a quality Christian education for its student population.” The school’s mission statement continues, declaring, “Mississippi College stimulates the intellectual development of its students through the liberal arts and sciences and concentrated study in specialized fields, including preprofessional and professional programs. Furthermore, the university environment promotes the spiritual, social, emotional, and physical development of its students and encourages them to utilize their skills, talents, and abilities as they pursue meaningful careers, life-long learning, and service to God and others.”Mississippi College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1922. Nearly 100 undergraduate areas of study are offered as well as over a dozen graduate degrees including doctorates in the areas of jursprudence, educational leadership, and professional counseling. Mississippi College is comprised of several schools, namely, the School of Business, the School of Christian Studies & the Arts, the School of Education, the School of Humanities & Social Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Nursing, and the School of Science & Mathematics.
Student Life
Mississippi College has a total enrollment figure of more than 5,000, including over 3,000 undergraduate students. On-campus student housing is offered through the College’s several residence halls which are divided according to gender. Graduate student housing is also available in the form of fully furnished loft apartments located above the College’s Bookstore.Mississippi College recognizes more than 50 active student organizations on its campus, catering to a wide variety of personal and professional interests and ranging from academic societies to campus ministries. The College is also home to a number of campus traditions, including Mississippi College’s Welcome Week which features a Back to the Streets Festival with a kickoff concert; the Festival Of Lights concerts, which are performed each Christmas by the award-winning Mississippi Singers; the Choctaw Cheer-Off; Follies, a homecoming-week variety show of sorts; the beating of the Civitan Drum; Derby Day; and Spring Fever Week. An NCAA Division II school, Mississippi College’s varsity teams compete in the Gulf South Conference.