(JACKSON, Miss.) Jackson State University enrolled 6,464 students for fall 2025, up 2.2% from 6,326 in fall 2024, according to data from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL). IHL reports 81,961 students enrolled across Mississippi’s public universities this fall, a 2.7% increase from 2024.
“Our enrollment growth reflects students choosing JSU for strong academics, supportive faculty and opportunities you can only find at Mississippi’s urban research university,” said Denise Jones Gregory, Ph.D., interim president of Jackson State University. “As we expand advising, streamline student support and strengthen programs, we are setting Thee Standard for access, excellence and impact. This is a campuswide commitment, with faculty, staff, students and alumni working together to help Tigers enroll, persist and graduate.”
JSU recently climbed to No. 15 among HBCUs in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings and is tied at No. 65 among national universities in the Social Mobility category, which underscores the university’s support and access for low-income and first-generation students.
This year’s increase reflects coordinated work across divisions to strengthen enrollment and retention. JSU expanded advising availability; hosted in-person one-stop enrollment events on campus, across Mississippi and at select out-of-state locations; and added virtual orientation opportunities. The university broadened access pipelines, including dual enrollment with Jackson Public Schools, and reinforced first-year success through its R.O.A.R. (Re-envisioning Orientation, Advising & Retention) initiative. First-time, full-time freshmen increased to a preliminary 1,244 in fall 2025, up from 918 in fall 2024.
That collaborative work extends beyond campus. JSU’s alumni association chapters support recruitment by attending local college fairs, hosting fundraisers for student scholarships and bringing prospective students to campus for events such as High School Day. Chapters also host send-offs for first-time freshmen in their communities before move-in.