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Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Former names	The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi (1878–1932) Mississippi State College (1932–1958)
Motto	"Learning, Service, Research"
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	February 28, 1878; 147 years ago (February 28, 1878)
Parent institution	Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliation	ORAU Sea-grant Space-grant
Endowment	$698.2 million (2021)
President	Mark E. Keenum
Academic staff	1,359
Administrative staff	3,361
Students	22,649 (Fall 2022)
Location	Mississippi State , Mississippi , United States 33°27′14″N 88°47′20″W / 33.454°N 88.789°W / 33.454; -88.789
Campus	Remote town, 4,200 acres (17 km²)
Other campuses	Biloxi Gautier Meridian Stennis Space Center
Newspaper	The Reflector
Colors	Maroon and White
Nickname	Bulldogs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – SEC
Mascot	Bully the Bulldog

Mississippi State University (MSU) is a large public university in Mississippi State, Mississippi. It's known for its strong focus on research, having the biggest research budget in Mississippi. MSU is also a "land-grant" university, which means it was created to teach practical subjects like agriculture and engineering.

The university started as the Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College in 1878. It welcomed its first students in 1880. Today, MSU offers over 180 different study programs, from bachelor's degrees to advanced professional degrees. It's also home to Mississippi's only special programs in architecture and veterinary medicine. MSU has a main campus in Starkville and smaller campuses in other cities like Meridian and Biloxi.

MSU's sports teams are called the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They compete in NCAA Division I and are part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bulldogs were even one of the founding members of the SEC back in 1932. They have won many championships, including a national championship in baseball! Their baseball team is especially famous, with huge crowds at Dudy Noble Field, Polk–DeMent Stadium.

History of MSU
MSU Campuses
- Mitchell Memorial Library
- The Junction
Student Life
Athletics
University Rankings
Notable People from MSU
See also

History of MSU

Mississippi State University began as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi. It was one of the first "land-grant colleges" in the country. These colleges were set up by the U.S. Congress to teach farming, engineering, and military skills.

The Mississippi Legislature created the university on February 28, 1878. Its goal was to offer training in "agriculture, horticulture and the mechanical arts." The first students arrived in the fall of 1880.

Over the years, the university's mission grew. In 1932, it was renamed Mississippi State College. Then, in 1958, it became Mississippi State University. This new name showed that the university was offering more advanced degrees and new study areas.

In 1965, MSU welcomed its first African-American student, Richard E. Holmes. This was an important step for the university during the Civil Rights Movement.

Later, new schools were added, like the School of Architecture in 1973 and the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977. The Vet school at MSU is one of the largest in the nation.

In 2006, the university opened the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. This college offers special, challenging courses for very talented students.

Mississippi State in 1914

MSU Campuses

Mississippi State University has a main campus in Starkville, Mississippi. It's a big campus with about 4,200 acres, including farms and woodlands. The university also owns even more land across the state.

MSU offers many different programs and degrees. Here are some of the main colleges and schools:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
College of Architecture Art and Design
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business
Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy
College of Education
James Worth Bagley College of Engineering
Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
Shackouls Honors College
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine
School of Human Sciences

The main part of the campus is built around a large open area called the Drill Field. This field was once used for military training. Around the Drill Field, you'll find many important buildings, including the Mitchell Memorial Library.

Beyond the main campus, there are areas for agricultural research. There are also newer facilities like the astronomical observatory. The university also has a research park called the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.

The Drill Field and surrounding buildings

Mitchell Memorial Library

Mississippi State University is home to the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Collection.

The Mitchell Memorial Library is right in the middle of the campus. It has over 2 million books and many journals.

One cool thing about the library is that it's home to the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. This means that many of President Grant's important papers, letters, and photos are kept here permanently. Grant was a famous U.S. President and Civil War general.

The library also has the Congressional and Political Research Center. This center holds important papers from U.S. Senator John C. Stennis and Congressman G. V. Montgomery. These leaders served in Congress for many years.

Another special collection belongs to the famous author John Grisham. He went to MSU, and he donated his papers to the university. You can see some of his materials in the John Grisham Room.

The library also has the Charles H. Templeton Collection. This amazing collection includes old music instruments, sheet music, and records. It even has one of the most complete collections of old Victor Talking Machines. The library hosts an annual Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival, where musicians play historic ragtime music.

The Junction

The Junction is a central gathering place on campus. It used to be a confusing area with many roads. But now, it's a nice open space with walkways and green areas. It's a great spot for students, alumni, and visitors to meet up. It's especially popular for events like football tailgating before games.

Student Life

MSU has over 300 student organizations! This means there's something for everyone. Some popular groups include:

The Student Association
The Famous Maroon Band
MSU Road Runners
Many fraternities and sororities
The Black Student Alliance
Music Maker Productions, which brings concerts to campus

The university also has many international student groups. These groups help students learn about different cultures and traditions.

Student Media

MSU has its own local radio station called WMSV. Students also run the university newspaper, The Reflector. It's published twice a week and has won awards for being one of the best college newspapers in the South.

Music Scene

Besides the campus radio station, MSU hosts the Old Main Music Festival every spring. This festival is free and takes place right on campus. The city of Starkville and the MSU campus have also hosted many famous musicians over the years, including Johnny Cash!

Lecture Series

Every semester, Mississippi State invites important speakers to campus. These have included best-selling authors like John Grisham, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and famous director Spike Lee. Even Nobel Prize winners have visited to share their knowledge!

Greek Life

MSU has many fraternities and sororities. These are social organizations that students can join. They often participate in community service and social events.

Athletics

Davis Wade Stadium at a record-setting capacity of 58,103 against Alabama. Since renovation and expansion, the new attendance record is 62,945 set in 2014 against Auburn.

Mississippi State University's sports teams are called the Bulldogs. They play in NCAA Division I and are part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bulldogs have won many championships in different sports.

The most famous sport at Mississippi State is baseball. The baseball team, known as the Diamond Dogs, has won many conference championships. They have also made it to the College World Series many times, even winning a national championship in 2021! Their home field, Dudy Noble Field, Polk-Dement Stadium, holds records for the largest crowds in college baseball.

University Rankings

In 2014, Mississippi State was ranked among the top colleges in the U.S. for helping students improve their social standing.
The university's School of Landscape Architecture was ranked as the second-best program in the nation in 2009. This program is the only one of its kind in Mississippi.

U.S. News & World Report National Rankings