MC Fares Well in U.S. News & World Report College Rankings
In its new annual ranking of "America's Best Colleges" released Thursday, the magazine rates MC No. 11 among Southern universities-master's level in the category of "Great Schools at Great Prices." The Citadel of South Carolina, one of the nation's premier military academies, finished No. 1 in the regional listing.
The strong ranking from "U.S. News & World Report" comes on the heels of the "Forbes" magazine ranking of MC among America's top 25 college best buys. One of the nation's leading business publications, "Forbes" earlier this month looked at academic quality, costs, faculty and student awards, graduation rates plus other campus measuring sticks.
On sale soon at bookstores nationwide, the 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" noted 45 percent of the MC students receive grants based on need to help cover annual tuition and fees of $14,571 last year. It translates into an average discount rate of 38 percent from the MC price.
MC President Lee Royce was encouraged to see another prominent publication play up the Christian university's strengths as an affordable school with a strong academic reputation.
At a time when the nation's economic crunch lingers, "seeing Mississippi College continue to gain national recognition as an excellent value for the price is something, we believe, worth highlighting," Royce said. The viewpoint of "U.S. News & World Report" backs up what "Forbes" magazine reported about MC in early August, he noted.
In the listing of 15 top Southern universities at the master's level, the "U.S. News & World Report" analysis showed MC's $14,571 annual cost to be the second lowest in the region. It was topped only by the $13,510 at The Citadel. The most expensive in the category was the $25,973 charged by No. 14 Elon University in North Carolina.
The "U.S, News & World Report" college rankings take into account such things as retention, peer assessments, faculty resources, alumni giving, graduation rates, admissions test scores, per-student spending as the key yardsticks.
MC students say costs and academic quality are major factors in their decision, but they evaluate other things, too, before coming to the Clinton campus.
Mississippi College "offers small classes and you get to know your professors on a 1:1 basis," says MC junior Lindsey Terrebonne, 20, of Jackson. "I like the small community feel to it, and the people."
While the price of an education at private MC exceeds that of a community college or a number of public institutions, "the cost is worth it," said Terrebonne, a music education major. "All of us get financial help if we need it."
The Murrah High graduate discovered Mississippi College by attending a music camp on the Clinton campus a few years ago. "That got me interested. I like the music department," she said. "It is challenging - one of the best."
MC Choctaws football player Jaron Ducksworth, 18, of Mize said he liked the opportunity to play college sports, but points to other factors - from costs to small classes - drawing him to the university.
"I feel it is a good value - a good deal," said Ducksworth, a freshman with plans to become a business major. "I like the environment around here - it is peaceful," said the former Mize High running back. "I\'d rather go here than a big university."
As he moved his belongings into Chrestman Hall with help from his dad and brother, freshman Michael Felder said he hopes to play the trumpet in the MC band and study communications. "I got a bunch of scholarships," said the 18-year-old Louisiana resident. "The cost is not too bad."
MC's location in metro Jackson is another plus for many students. The Baptist-affiliated university isn't very far away from Felder's family in the Bayou State. It takes him about two hours to drive to his home in Ponchatoula, La. Attending an MC summer camp - M-Fuge - for the past three years was a big factor in triggering his decision to enroll at the college in Clinton.
Whether they've looked at the growing list of college guides at bookstores or taken advice from family or friends, MC students say they can't wait to start the university's 184th academic year.
While football, soccer, volleyball and other MC players have arrived for pre-season practices in recent days, students begin fall classes Aug. 26. The first big athletic test of the year is the annual Backyard Brawl on Saturday, Sept. 5 that pits MC against rival Millsaps in Clinton.
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