No, Mississippi State University is not an HBCU. It is a predominantly white institution founded in 1878 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi under the Morrill Act of 1862, which established land-grant colleges across the country. The confusion often comes from the state’s name appearing alongside several well-known HBCUs, and from the fact that Mississippi has a separate land-grant university, Alcorn State University, that is an HBCU.
Why the Confusion Exists
Mississippi has six federally recognized HBCUs, more than most states, and several share a similar naming pattern with “Mississippi” or “State” in the title. Mississippi Valley State University and Jackson State University, for example, are both HBCUs. It’s easy to assume Mississippi State University fits in the same category, but the institutions have entirely different origins and designations.
The land-grant system adds another layer. Congress created two waves of land-grant colleges. The first, through the Morrill Act of 1862, funded institutions in every state. These schools were generally established for white students. Mississippi State University is Mississippi’s 1862 land-grant school. The second Morrill Act of 1890 required states, particularly in the South, to either admit Black students to their existing land-grant college or establish a separate one. That 1890 institution in Mississippi is Alcorn State University, which had actually been founded earlier (in 1871) as the nation’s first land-grant college for Black students. Alcorn State is an HBCU. Mississippi State is not.
Mississippi’s Six HBCUs
The U.S. Department of Education maintains the official list of 105 HBCUs nationwide. Six are in Mississippi:
- Alcorn State University (Lorman): 4-year, public
- Coahoma Community College (Clarksdale): 2-year, public
- Jackson State University (Jackson): 4-year, public
- Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena): 4-year, public
- Rust College (Holly Springs): 4-year, private
- Tougaloo College (Tougaloo): 4-year, private
Mississippi State University does not appear on this list. Neither does the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), another school people sometimes ask about.
What Makes a School an HBCU
HBCU status is a legal designation, not a description of current enrollment demographics. Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, an HBCU is any accredited institution established before 1964 whose principal mission was, and still is, the education of Black Americans. A university doesn’t become an HBCU because it enrolls a large number of Black students today, and an HBCU doesn’t lose its status if its demographics shift over time. The designation is rooted in founding purpose and history.
Mississippi State was founded to serve the state’s agricultural and mechanical training needs under an 1862 land-grant charter that, in practice, served white students. Its history, mission, and federal classification place it firmly outside the HBCU category.
Does It Matter for Students?
If you’re researching schools specifically because you want to attend an HBCU, Mississippi has strong options across a range of sizes and specialties. Jackson State is the largest, with robust graduate programs. Alcorn State has deep roots as a land-grant institution with strengths in agriculture, nursing, and STEM. Tougaloo and Rust are smaller private colleges with a liberal arts focus. Coahoma Community College offers a two-year pathway.
HBCU status also matters for certain scholarships, federal grants, and programs specifically directed at HBCU students and graduates. Attending Mississippi State would not qualify you for those opportunities. If HBCU-specific funding or the cultural experience of an HBCU campus is part of your college decision, make sure the school you’re considering is actually on the Department of Education’s official list.