# Mississippi Valley State University

> university in Mississippi

**Wikidata**: [Q3316928](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3316928)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Valley_State_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mississippi-valley-state-university

## Summary
Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is a public historically black university (HBCU) located in Itta Bena, Leflore County, Mississippi. Founded in 1950 by James Herbert White, the university serves over 2,000 students and is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1950.
- **Location:** 14000 Highway 82 West, Itta Bena, MS, 38941-1400 (Leflore County).
- **Type:** Public educational institution; Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
- **Founder:** James Herbert White.
- **Enrollment:** 2,032 students (as of September 2020).
- **Staff:** 548 employees (as of September 2020).
- **Admission Rate:** 83% (as of 2020).
- **Athletics:** Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes.
- **Website:** https://www.mvsu.edu/

## FAQs
### Q: Where is Mississippi Valley State University located?
A: The university is located in Leflore County, Mississippi, at 14000 Highway 82 West, Itta Bena, MS, 38941-1400.

### Q: Is Mississippi Valley State University an HBCU?
A: Yes, it is classified as a historically black college or university (HBCU) and is a public educational institution of the United States.

### Q: What is the student population and acceptance rate?
A: As of September 2020, the university had 2,032 students and an admission rate of 83% for the year 2020.

### Q: What athletic program does the university sponsor?
A: The university's athletic program is known as the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes.

## Why It Matters
Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) serves as a vital educational and cultural institution in the Mississippi Delta region. Established in 1950, it fulfills a critical role as a historically black college or university (HBCU), providing higher education opportunities and fostering academic development for minority students. The university is classified by the Carnegie Classification system as a "Master's College and University" with small programs, emphasizing both undergraduate and postbaccalaureate education.

The institution is significant for its accessibility, maintaining a high admission rate (83% in 2020), which supports its mission of inclusive education. As a member of the American Council on Education and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, MVSU contributes to the broader landscape of American public higher education. Its foundation by James Herbert White marks it as a distinct product of the mid-20th-century expansion of educational access in the segregated South, continuing to impact the community through the James Herbert White Library and various academic programs focused on professions, arts, and sciences.

## Notable For
- **HBCU Status:** Recognized officially as a Historically Black College or University.
- **Specific Carnegie Classification:** Designated as a "Master's college or university: small programs" and a "four-year, small, highly residential" institution.
- **Founder:** Unique distinction of being founded by James Herbert White.
- **Admissions:** Maintains a high admission rate of 0.83 (83% as of 2020).
- **Athletic Identity:** Home to the "Delta Devils and Devilettes" athletic program.

## Body

### History and Foundation
Mississippi Valley State University was established in **1950**. It was founded by **James Herbert White**, an educational leader instrumental in the institution's creation. The university operates as a public educational institution within the United States.

### Campus and Location
The university is situated in **Itta Bena, Mississippi**, specifically in **Leflore County**.
*   **Street Address:** 14000 Highway 82 West, Itta Bena, MS, 38941-1400.
*   **Coordinates:** 33.512561111111, -90.342422222222.
*   **Campus Subsidiaries:** The campus includes the **James Herbert White Library**.

### Academics and Classification
MVSU operates on a **semester**-based academic calendar. Its Carnegie Classification includes several specific designations:
*   Master's colleges and universities: small programs
*   High undergraduate
*   Postbaccalaureate: other-dominant, with arts & sciences
*   Four-year, small, highly residential
*   Four-year, full-time, inclusive, higher transfer-in
*   Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence

The institution is affiliated with the **American Council on Education** and the **American Association of State Colleges and Universities**.

### Demographics and Statistics
According to data from September 2020:
*   **Student Count:** 2,032
*   **Employees:** 548
*   **Admission Rate:** 0.83 (83%)
*   **Admission Yield Rate:** 0.09 (9%)

### Athletics and Student Life
The university's athletic teams are named the **Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes**. The university maintains an active social media presence, utilizing the handle **@MVSUDEVILS** on Twitter (joined March 2009) and **@mvsu1950** on Instagram.

### Affiliated Persons
*   **Constance Bland:** A computer scientist and academic administrator affiliated with the university. She served as VP of Academic Affairs.

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. [Source](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/county/c28083_leflore/DC20BLK_C28083.pdf)
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. [Source](http://hbculibraries.org/libraries-year.html)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080233/https://acememberdirectory.azurewebsites.net/)
6. [Source](https://aascu.org/our-members/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. GeoNames
9. [Source](http://www.mvsu.edu/)
10. GRID Release 2015-12-14
11. GRID Release 2016-12-06
12. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
13. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
14. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
15. [Source](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2848120_mississippi_valley_state_university/DC20BLK_P2848120.pdf)
16. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
17. National Center for Education Statistics