Mississippi Gulf News

Black or African American students were the most represented ethnicity among students at Harrison County universities in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Of the 474 students attending institutions in the county at the time, 51.1% were Black or African American. This is an increase of 20.4% in enrollment numbers, compared to the previous year.

White students comprised the second largest ethnic group in the county, followed by Hispanic students.

Countywide, the number of undergraduates attending the two universities in the county during the 2022-23 school year grew by 17.3%. Blue Cliff College-Gulfport reported the largest student body, with 352 students.

Graduation rates reveal a significant achievement gap among different ethnicities. While white students graduate at a rate of 62.1%, Black and Hispanic students graduate at a rate of around 40%.

Ethnic Group	% of Total Student Body
Black or African American	51.1%
White	40.7%
Hispanic	3.4%
Asian	1.9%
American Indian or Alaskan Native	1.5%
Multiracial	1.3%
Unknown	0.2%