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ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

1000 ASU Drive #359, Alcorn State, MS 39096

Admissions: 800-222-6790 (in-state) • Financial Aid: 601-877-6190

Email: ebarnes1@mail.alcorn.edu • Website: http://www.alcorn.edu

From the College

“Alcorn State University is located on 1,756 acres of scenic land in southwest Mississippi. The campus has a blend of rich, historic buildings and modern, innovative facilities. The University has received recognition throughout the United States for its excellence in liberal arts, agricultural research, technology, nursing and fine arts. It also features one of the largest marching bands in the United States and has won numerous athletic championships in men’s and women’s sports. For more than 125 years, Alcorn State has educated leaders in the full range of professions agriculture, the arts, business, human services, education, law, politics, medicine and nursing. An important reason for our graduates’ success: At Alcorn, students form close, collaborative relationships with faculty mentors. A look at our campuses will show you that we’re growing. A $10 million math and science building with $3 million in state-of-the-art equipment is one of the newest additions to Alcorn’s 1,700-acre Lorman campus.”

Campus Setting

Alcorn State, founded in 1871, is the oldest historically black, land-grant university in the country. Its 1,756-acre campus is situated at Alcorn State in Claiborne County, Mississippi, 90 miles southwest of Jackson. A four-year public institution, Alcorn State University is a historically black university with 3,334 students. Although not originally co-educational college, Alcorn State University has been co-ed since 1903. The school also has a library with 335,252 books. Alcorn State University provides on-campus housing with nine units that can accommodate 1,811 students. Housing options: women’s dorms • men’s dorms. Recreation and sports facilities include a sports complex.

Student Life and Activities

With 51 percent of students living on campus, there are plenty of social activities. As reported by a school representative, “The social and cultural life on campus will continue to grow because we have created many new events for students.” Popular on-campus gathering spots include the cafeteria and game room, and, off-campus, students typically gather at the Trace Theater. Favorite campus events include Probate Shows, concerts and Homecoming Week. Alcorn State University has 78 official student organizations, including Greek sororities and fraternities. Alcorn State University is a member of the NCAA and Southwestern Athletic Conference (Division I, Football I-AA).

Academics and Learning Environment

For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Alcorn State University has 183 full-time and 37 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. The most common course size is 20 to 29 students. Alcorn State University offers 68 majors with the most popular being general studies, elementary education and business administration and least popular being economics, health science and special education. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is available. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student: independent study • double majors • accelerated study • honors program • internships • distance learning.

B Student Support and Success

This is primarily an African American college, although about eight percent of the students are Caucasian or of other ethnic backgrounds. Classes are small, and College for Excellence is offered for all freshmen, returning and transfer students. This program plans, supervises and coordinates all academic experiences of these students. It has an advising and tutoring staff and state-of-the-art computer labs. Professional advisors support students by helping them adjust to college life, teaching them about Alcorn and its policies, exploring career options and solving any problems that come along. Additionally, staff is available to teach good test-taking, studying and time management skills and to monitor progress. Students who need additional help in reading, writing or thinking skills are assisted so that they can quickly reach college-level proficiency.

Alcorn State University provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • psychological. Additional counseling services include: alcohol/substance abuse. Annually, 70 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. What do students do after college? While many enter the work force, approximately 41 percent pursue a graduate degree immediately after graduation. Among students who enter the work force, approximately 60 percent enter a field related to their major within six months of graduation. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Alcorn State University include: Cargill • Dow Chemical • Eastman Chemical • Entergy Operations • Enterprise Rent-A-Car • Ergon Refining • Exxon • FDIC • John Deere • Monsanto • Mississippi State Tax Commission • Mississippi Valley Gas • Naval Oceanographic Office • Primerica Financial Services • Sanderson Farms • Trustmark • Tyson Foods • USAE Corps of Engineers • USDA • U.S. Department of Energy • Walgreens • Wells Fargo Financial.

Support for Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs offered by Alcorn State University. If necessary, the college will grant additional time to students with learning disabilities to complete their degree. Credit is given for remedial courses taken. Students with learning disabilities will find the following programs at Alcorn State University extremely useful: remedial math • remedial English • remedial reading • tutors • extended time for tests • priority registration. Individual or small group tutorials are also available.

Highlights

Alcorn State University

Lorman (Pop. 4,500)

Location: Small town

Four-year public

Founded: 1871

Website: http://www.alcorn.edu

Students

Total enrollment: 3,334

Undergrads: 2,700

Freshmen: 1,000

Part-time students: 10%

From out-of-state: 16%

From public schools: 99%

Male/Female: 33%/67%

Live on-campus: 51%

In fraternities: 7%

In sororities: 10%

Caucasian: 5%

African American: 93%

Hispanic: 1%

Asian or Pacific Islander: 0%

International: 1%

Academics

Calendar: Semester

Student/faculty ratio: 15:1

Class size 9 or fewer: 22%

Class size 10-29: 57%

Class size 30-49: 17%

Class size 50-99: 4%

Class size 100 or more: -

Returning freshmen: 70%

Six-year graduation rate: 40%

Most Popular Majors

General studies

Elementary education

Business administration

How to Get Admitted

For admissions decisions, non-academic factors considered: interview • state of residency. A high school diploma is required, although a GED is also accepted for admissions consideration. SAT or ACT test scores are required for some applicants. SAT Subject Test scores are required for some applicants. According to the admissions office: Complete the College Prep Curriculum with: a minimum 3.2 GPA; minimum 2.5 GPA, minimum composite ACT score of 16 (combined SAT score of 790), or rank in upper 50% of class and minimum composite ACT score of 16 (combined SAT score of 790); minimum 2.0 GPA and minimum composite ACT score of 18 (combined SAT score of 870). Academic units recommended: 1 Foreign Language.

How to Pay for College

To apply for financial aid, students should submit the following: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • institution’s own financial aid forms. Alcorn State University participates in the Federal Work Study program. Need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • general need-based awards • Federal Pell grants • state scholarships and grants • college-based scholarships and grants • private scholarships and grants. Non-need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • state scholarships and grants • athletic scholarships • ROTC scholarships.

Highlights

Admissions

Applicants: 3,195

Accepted: 1,291

Acceptance rate: 40.4%

Average GPA: 2.8

ACT range: Not reported

SAT Math range: 400-460

SAT Reading range: 390-470

SAT Writing range: Not reported

Top 50% of class: 71%

Deadlines

Early Action: No

Early Decision: No

Regular Action: Rolling admissions

Common Application: Not accepted

Financial Aid

In-state tuition: $4,848

Out-of-state tuition: $11,952

Room: $4,423

Board: $2,348

Books: $1,452

Freshmen receiving need-based aid: 93%

Undergrads rec. need-based aid: 93%

Avg. % of need met by financial aid: 90%

Avg. aid package (freshmen): $10,372

Avg. aid package (undergrads): $9,494

Freshmen receiving merit-based aid: 31%

Undergrads rec. merit-based aid: 21%

Avg. debt upon graduation: $18,123

Prominent Alumni

Medgar Wiley Evers, civil rights martyr; Dr. Jesse E. McGee, cardiologist, National Black College Hall of Fame; Steve McNair, NFL quarterback, NCAA Football Recordholder, SWAC Hall of Fame.

School Spirit

Mascot: Braves

Colors: Purple and gold

Song: Alcorn Ode