CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University reported a 5.2% increase in enrollment for Fall 2025, bringing total enrollment to 2,791 students. The university also recorded its largest growth in first-time full-time freshmen since before the pandemic, with freshman enrollment rising 38% compared to Fall 2024. Transfer enrollment increased by 15%, and first-time graduate student enrollment grew by 33%.
“We are thrilled to welcome our largest and most dynamic freshman class in years,” DSU President Dan Ennis said in a statement. “This milestone reflects the exceptional value of a Delta State education, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the growing confidence families place in our mission to transform lives through innovative, student-centered learning.”
The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning released enrollment data this week showing statewide enrollment rose 2.7% from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025. Mississippi’s public universities enrolled 81,961 students this fall, up from 79,817 last year.
Delta State’s growth rate tied with the University of Mississippi for the second-largest increase in the state system, trailing the Mississippi University for Women, which reported an 8.1% increase.
“Mississippi’s universities continue to set a high standard for our students in terms of value and price,” Higher Education Commissioner Al Rankins Jr. said. “These enrollment figures reflect the confidence that families from around the state and beyond have in our university system.”
As Delta State enters its centennial year in 2025, Ennis said the university will continue focusing on strategies to build enrollment.
“Delta State has powerful strengths that will continue to attract students,” Ennis said during a recent campus town hall. “Our commitment to personalized support, faculty and staff who invest in every aspect of student success, a vibrant and engaging campus life, and our deep-rooted dedication to this community and region—these core values remain unwavering.”
