Pearl River Community College (PRCC) History and Academics

History

The Mississippi Agricultural High School Law of 1908 made it possible for the Pearl River Country Agricultural High School (PRCAHS) to open. This law was in violation of the separate but equal law since African-American students were not allowed to attend this high school. That same law caused all but three of the thirty agricultural high schools in Mississippi to close at that time. Citizens of Pearl River County helped to fund the school by securing a loan from a local bank until the legislature passed a new law affording the opportunity to both races.

Classes resumed on September 8, 1909 in a three story building on 20 acres of land in Poplarville, Mississippi. Freshman level classes were added during the years of 1921 and 1922. Pearl River Community College began adding sophomore classes during the years 1925 and 1926. The college continued to grow, and now the college has a total of 4 campuses.

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Information Summary

Ranks 11th in Mississippi and 1181st overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	77.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$13,350
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT 75%ile scores	21
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	19 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	66% / 35%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,836

Academics

Pearl River Community College is the first 2-year public institution in the state of Mississippi. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the college. Students can earn an associate’s degree in a variety of academic and technical areas at Pearl River Community College.

Pearl River Community College consists of 5 departments: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences; Department of Fine Arts and Communications; Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; Department of Science, Mathematics, and Business; and Department of Nursing Education. A few of the degrees offered by the departments include Elementary Education, Library Science, Criminal Justice, Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Studies, Athletic Administration and Coaching, Sports Medicine/Sports Injury Management, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Engineering Technology, and Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management Emphasis. There are currently over 30 associate degrees that students can earn.

Online courses are available for students who are organized and self-motivated. The college offer online courses through the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC). Pearl River Community College and 5 other junior and community colleges in the state of Mississippi combine to offer online education options. Students receive online instruction from Pearl River Community College instructors. Students taking online courses must take at least one proctored test while taking the course.

Dual enrollment is available for high school students in the Pearl County district. Dual enrollment allows students to attend high school and college at the same time. Students earn credit toward a diploma at a public institution in Mississippi and earn credit toward a high school diploma as well. The eligibility requirements for the dual enrollment program include a minimum of a 3.0 GPA of a 4.0 scales in all high school courses, official high school transcript, ACT scores on file with Pearl River Community College, complete a minimum of 14 core units ( if a student has a GPA of 30 or higher of the ACT and the required GPA, a student may participate without the 14 core unit requirements), receive a recommendation from the high school guidance counselor or principal, and score the required score in the Reading, Mathematics, and English subtest of the ACT ( Mathematics, 16 or above; Reading, 16 or above; and English, 16 or above).

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

General admission requirements for Pearl River Community College include a completed application, high school or GED transcript indicating passing or graduation date, official transcript from each attended college, and ACT scores. Transfer students must attend a regionally attended institution prior to applying for admission to Pearl River Community College to receive admittance. Students must also submit official CLEP or AP scores for evaluation. All accepted transfer courses must be equivalent to Pearl River Community College’s courses. Grades in transfer courses must be a “C” or higher and an overall GPA above 2.0.

The requirements for admission into the nursing program include a completed general application, submitted GED scores or high school transcript, a composite score of 18 or higher on the ACT or 12 completed semester hours with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, submit an application to the Associate of Nursing Education department, and submit test results for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Pre-Admission Examination-RN (PAX-RX).

Students who wish to receive admittance into continuing education class must be 18 years of age or older and submit a completed admission application. Those under the age of 18 who wish to receive admission into the continuing education classes must submit a letter of recommendation from the high school counselor or principal.

Financial Aid

Students interested in receiving financial aid must complete the FAFSA application prior to receiving admission for the best results. Each student qualifies for assistance based on unique needs. Students may qualify for state and federal loans, grants, and work study programs by completing the FAFSA application. The amount of financial aid that students receive is prorated throughout the year. Awards range from hundreds to thousands of dollars in financial assistance. Students may begin completing the FAFSA applications in early January for the best award amounts.

Students may also want to apply for MESG/MTAG Awards, which are grants provided by the state of Mississippi that do not require repayment. Interested students may apply for this form of financial assistance in addition to completing the FAFSA application.

A number of scholarships are available for students who qualify. Scholarships awarded by Pearl River Community College or outside organizations are another option to finance an education. Students may qualify for specific department scholarships or general scholarships from the college. Foundation scholarships are also available to for student who meet the criteria. Additional financial aid can be found on FastWeb and Scholarships4moms. These websites offer assistance with finding national, local, and college-specific scholarships.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5514th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Mississippi.

Students

The residential halls on campus provide a safe and comfortable environment for students. Residential Assistants and Residence Hall Supervisors live on each floor of each hall at Pearl River Community College. The women’s dormitories include River Village Dormitory, Holden Hall Dormitory, and Mood Hall Dormitory. The men’s dormitories include New Men’s Suites, Huff Hall Dormitory, Pearl River Dormitory, White Hall Dormitory, and Marion Hall Dormitory. Students can enjoy many activities through the residential halls.

Pearl River Community College serves several county districts in Mississippi. The Gavin H. Johnson Library has a Learning Resources program with Media Services and a Learning Lab. The library has periodicals, indexes, and books in both print and computer based form. The Forrest Country Center Library was established in 1995. This location includes computer software, hardware, audiovisual software, books, indexes, and periodicals. The latest addition to the library system is the Hancock Center. This location opened in 2005 and has over 54,000 books. The Johnson Learning Library is another library on campus. Students can enjoy a conference rooms and private study areas for academic study time. Students can enjoy a variety of activities while attending Pearl River Community College. The Student Government Association connects the administration and the study body, and this group is responsible for planning various campus activities throughout the year. “The Back to School BBQ” and “Fall Fest” are a few of the many activities scheduled to alleviate stress in students. Students can also enjoy bonfires, movie nights, and dance parties throughout the fall semester. The spring semester has talent shows and pageants for students.

There are many clubs and organizations that students may join, including Delta Epsilon Chi, the Baptist Student Union, Phi Theta Kappa, and Wesley Foundation.

The campus wellness center is available for student to relieve stress. Students can utilize weights, exercise machines, aerobics, and group exercise classes on a daily basis. Intramural sports are also available for students interested in competitive sports. These teams provide an opportunity for students to create lasting friendships. Intramural sports include basketball, softball, and flag football.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

The Wildcats participate in the National Junior college Athletic Association (NJCAA). The teams consist of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, softball, and tennis. The school’s athletic facilities consist of Dobie Holden Stadium, football; Marvin R. White Coliseum, main sports arena; Wildcat Field, baseball; PRCC Softball Field, PRCC Soccer Field, PRCC Tennis Courts, PRCC Football Practice Field, and PRCC Wellness Center.

Notable accomplishments include 1 state championship, women’s soccer; 2 state championships, baseball; 11 state championships, men’s basketball; 1 state championship, women’s basketball; 18 state championships, football; 1 state championship, golf; and 2 state championships, women’s soccer. Pearl River Community College has won 19 state titles, which set a record for community colleges in Mississippi. During the 2003-2004 seasons, the Wildcats made history by winning four state championships in major men’s sports. During that time, the men’s soccer, basketball, football, and baseball teams won state championships. The competitive spirits of each of these sports teams has created a tradition that has lasted through the years. The future is bright for each of Pearl River Community College’s athletic teams.

Notable athletes include Jimmy Oliver, NFL quarterback; Matt Lott, NFL offensive lineman; Larry Brackins, NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Donavan Morgan, AFL player for the Chicago Rush; Demetrius Byrd, wide receiver for San Diego Charger; Cornelius Griffin, defensive lineman for the Washington Redskins; Hiram Eugene, defensive back for Oakland Raiders; and James Singleton, player for the Washington Wizards.

Bibliography

Bond, Bradley G.Mississippi: A Documentary History.Los Angeles: University Press of Mississippi, 2005. Print.
Pearl River Community College. 28 April 2011. Web. 28 April 2011.
Silver, Dr. Don. Community College Transfer Guide._New York: Adams-Hall Publishing, 2009. Print.

Pearl River Community College