Southwest Mississippi Community College
- Southwest Mississippi Community College provides academic, career, and continuing education, meeting the diverse needs of the population at a reasonable cost. SMCC provides community services and promotes economic development through consultative and workforce training.
School Highlights
- Southwest Mississippi Community College serves 1,973 students (84% of students are full-time).
- The college's student:teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the state community college average of 22:1.
- Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 42%.
- Southwest Mississippi Community College is the only community colleges within Pike County, MS.
- The nearest community college to Southwest Mississippi Community College is Copiah-Lincoln Community College (28.0 miles away).
School Overview
- The teacher population of 81 teachers has declined by 42% over five years.
| Southwest Mississippi Community College | (MS) Community College Avg. | |
| Institution Level | At least 2 but less than 4 years | At least 2 but less than 4 years |
| Institution Control | Public | Public |
| Total Faculty | 81 staff | 138 staff |
| Total Enrollment | 1,973 students | 2,966 students |
 |
||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 24:1 | 22:1 |
| # Full-Time Students | 1,666 students | 2,344 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 307 students | 622 students |
 |
 |
|
| Total Dormitory Capacity | 416 | 593 |
| % Asian | 2%
|
1%
|
| % Hispanic | - | 1%
|
| % Black | 33%
|
36%
|
| % White | 62%
|
58%
|
| % Two or more races | 1%
|
1%
|
| % Unknown races | 2%
|
2%
|
 |
 |
|
| Diversity Score | 0.51 | 0.53 |
 |
||
| College Completion Rate | 27%
|
27%
|
| Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) | $31,100 | $29,800 |
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS
School Notes
- Southwest Mississippi Community College is a two-year college that offers the freshman and sophomore level academic transfer courses, and vocational-technical programs. In 1908, the Mississippi legislature enacted legislation allowing counties to establish agricultural high schools. On April 7, 1916, the Pike County School Board voted to establish such a high school. The ideal spot for the new agricultural high school was Godbold's Mineral Wells, located in a picturesque setting just northeast of Summit. Godbold's Mineral Wells, a state and national resort noted for its mineral waters, had outlived its glory years, yet it proved to be the perfect location for an educational facility. On September 3, 1918, Superintendent James Murray Kenna, six faculty members, and approximately forty students began the Pike County Agricultural High School - an institution destined to become Southwest Mississippi Community College. The original campus consisted of classroom buildings, dormitories, and a comprehensive farm, including dairy, beef, and row-crop operations. Still located on its original site, Southwest continues to grow and develop. The campus, located on a sixty-acre plot, includes twenty-eight buildings, a football stadium, and a baseball field. The buildings are situated around a central lake with walks, bridges, and paths connecting the buildings. The remainder of the approximately 855 acres is now a tree farm. Southwest Mississippi Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate Degree.
Nearby Schools
-
The nearest community college to Southwest Mississippi Community College is Copiah-Lincoln Community College (28.0 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
-
3,029 students | 28.00 Mi1001 Co-Lin Lane
Wesson, MS 39191
(601)643-5101 28.003,029 -
n/a students | 35.20 Mi137 College Street
Greensburg, LA 70441
(225)222-4251 35.20n/a -
3,752 students | 51.10 Mi1710 Sullivan Dr
Bogalusa, LA 70427
(985)732-6640 51.103,752 -
n/a students | 54.30 Mi111 Pride Dr
Hammond, LA 70401
54.30n/a -
771 students | 54.80 Mi3337 Hwy. 10
Jackson, LA 70748
(225)634-2636 54.80771
Recent Articles
The Online Education Initiative will greatly expand course offerings for community college students, while making the transfer process between institutions much more smooth. The Initiative has its critics, however, who decry the loss of local control over education.
A recent study reveals that job applicants with a credential or associate’s degree from a community college have slightly better chances of getting a job interview than students who attend a for-profit college or university. Since community colleges are much more budget friendly than for-profit institutions and have much better job placement results, community colleges are a much better option for employment-minded students.
After City College of San Francisco loses its accreditation, other community colleges in the state are facing warnings, sanctions and possible loss of accreditation as well.
