Led by the University of Mississippi, enrollment increased this year for Mississippi’s eight public universities, according to preliminary figures released on Monday afternoon by the State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Statewide, the state’s public institutions reported 80,973 students, an increase of 457 or about half a percent from last year.

However, Ole Miss, Mississippi Valley State University and Delta State University were the only ones of the eight that saw increases.

Ole Miss, including the medical campus in Jackson, grew by 704 students, or 3.4 percent, to 21,534 students. The university’s Oxford campus swelled by 569 students, or 3.1 percent, to 18,793. Among its gains, the university saw double-digit percentage increases in engineering, journalism, pharmacy and applied sciences.

Mississippi State University fell by 59 students, or .3 percent, to 20,365.

The University of Southern Mississippi was the third largest school with 16,471 students. That is a decrease of 133 students, or .8 percent, from last year.

Delta State grew by 132 students, or 2.9 percent to 4,756, while MVSU added 15 students to 2,467.

Also in Northeast Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women reported 2,651 students. That is down 10 from last year.

See Tuesday’s Daily Journal for more information.