Clinton Students Help Boost Mississippi College Enrollment

Mississippi College Christian Studies professor Ivan Parke, his daughter Anne Marie, son, Jonathan, and wife Mary Ann Parke, an MC math instructor, gather for a family picture on the Quad. Jonathan Parke, 18, is an MC freshman and Anne Marie, 21, is a senior on the Clinton campus.

Home cooked meals, free laundry services and hugs from parents are never far away for Mississippi College students from Clinton.

Students from MC’s hometown in Hinds County helped the Christian university’s enrollment grow this fall. So did a record of 377 international students, and a slight increase for graduate students.

New reports show there are 5,063 Mississippi College students this fall, up from 5,030 enrolled last fall.

For years, Clinton freshman Jonathan Parke, 18, planned to go to Baylor University in Texas.

But a few conversations with his sister, Anne Marie Parke, a 21-year-old senior, changed his mind and he decided to become an MC Choctaw.

“The way she talked about how great MC was for her, I wanted to see for myself how awesome it could be,” Jonathan Parke said. “It has been every bit as awesome so far!”

A biology major, Jonathan wants to use his bachelor’s degree to prepare for the university’s physician assistant program based at the Baptist Healthplex. “Hopefully after that I will be working in a hospital making money and helping people.”

Jonathan comes to Mississippi College with notable connections to the Baptist-affiliated university. His father, Ivan Parke, teaches Christian Studies at MC. His mother, Mary Ann Parke, is a math instructor on the Clinton campus.

Anne Marie Parke believes her brother made the right choice. “I love the family atmosphere here and the community,” says the math education major and future teacher. “I had to convince him. But there’s no home like MC.”

Anne Marie and Jonathan are both Clinton High graduates. Every year, Mississippi College attracts a significant number of students who are former Clinton High Arrows. 

Others cheering for the Blue & Gold are Clinton residents from private schools in metro Jackson or were homeschooled.

Freshman Matthew Atkinson, 18, of Clinton likes the five-minute drive from his home. “It was close and I’ve been interested in graphic design for years.”

A homeschooled student, Matthew brings family connections. His father, Mark Atkinson, is a Mississippi College graduate.

Reports show there are 592 new Mississippi College freshmen and 302 transfer students adding to the overall enrollment increase. MC attracted a very bright freshman class. The average high school G.P.A. for freshmen was 3.56 and the average ACT score is 24.4, a new record.

MC’s affordable sticker price, combined with strong academic programs and Christian environment are key factors making the university attractive for thousands of students. Mississippi College is ranked as the 4^th best value among Southern regional universities in this fall’s “U.S. News & World Report.”

The nation’s second oldest Baptist college is seeing dramatic growth for international students. There are 181 new international students this fall, including 109 graduate students and 72 undergraduates. MC’s international students come from two dozen nations.

Relatively new graduate programs are a magnet for students. MC’s physician assistant program enrolls a record of 94 graduate students this fall. Unique in Mississippi, the program trains professionals to work under the supervision of physicians. MC is also seeing an uptick in online enrollment in undergraduate and graduate classes.

Making the transition to NCAA Division II sports this fall, Mississippi College is drawing more student-athletes from across the USA as well as countries like Germany and Brazil.