Delta State University

What Delta State University does

Delta State University is a public four-year university founded in 1924 and located in Cleveland, Mississippi, organized into three colleges serving approximately 2,700 students from more than 35 countries. The institution's academic portfolio includes Mississippi's only four-year Commercial Aviation program, the Delta Music Institute, the Geospatial Information Technologies program, and access to the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and the state's only planetarium, the Wiley Planetarium. The university also operates the Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) as a cultural and revenue-generating venue and fields NCAA athletics.

Delta State generates revenue through a multi-stream model typical of U.S. public regional universities: undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees (notably including a $0 out-of-state tuition pricing lever), Mississippi state appropriations, auxiliary enterprises such as housing, dining, athletics, and BPAC venue rentals, plus continuing education and online program revenue. The institution maintains a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and is embedded in the Mississippi Delta's economic-development ecosystem via partnerships with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Delta Council, and the Delta Regional Authority, with international research collaboration including Nile University.

In 2025 the university entered a period of operational reset, including public fiscal-sustainability restructuring, expansion of online and continuing education programs, and the cancellation of its 100th-anniversary centennial celebration following an on-campus student death in September 2025. Leadership during this period includes President Dan Ennis, Athletic Director Mike Kinnison, and Head Women's Basketball Coach Tracy Stewart-Lange.

Name

Delta State University

Legal name

Delta State University

Website

https://deltastate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Delta State University is a public four-year institution in Cleveland, Mississippi, serving roughly 2,700 students across three colleges with programs including Commercial Aviation, the Delta Music Institute, and the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAAAI

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHABAE

Business & Management Research Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online learning programs
• Commercial aviation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Delta State University generates revenue primarily through tuition and mandatory fees from undergraduate, graduate, and international students. The university offers in-state pricing for all students (no out-of-state tuition) and provides over 400 scholarships to support enrollment.
2. State Funding and Appropriations: As a public institution funded largely by citizens of Mississippi, Delta State receives state appropriations for operations, augmented by partnerships with organizations like the Kellogg Foundation, Delta Council, and Delta Regional Authority.
3. Athletics Revenue: DSU Athletics generates revenue through NCAA Division II athletics, including ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and conference distributions. The program has won 14 national championships.
4. Campus Facilities and Events: Revenue from Bologna Performing Arts Center events, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi visitors, and facility rentals. The BPAC presents nationally touring concerts, Broadway musicals, and live comedy.
5. Continuing Education and Professional Development: Non-credit courses, workshops, certificate programs, and professional development offerings open to the public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Delta State University is a four-year public institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across three colleges (College of Business and Aviation; College of Education, Arts, and Humanities; College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences), along with 20+ online programs, continuing education, and cultural/community programming. It generates revenue through tuition and fees, state appropriations, NCAA Division II athletics, and cultural venues such as the Bologna Performing Arts Center and GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. The university serves nearly 2,700 students from across the United States and more than 35-40 countries with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Product overview

Delta State University is a four-year public institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across three colleges: College of Business and Aviation, College of Education, Arts, and Humanities, and College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences. The university's product portfolio includes distinctive academic programs (Delta Music Institute with world-class recording facilities, Commercial Aviation as the only 4-year program in the state, Geospatial Information Technologies), campus facilities (Bologna Performing Arts Center, Wiley Planetarium, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi), digital platforms (myDSU Portal with Canvas, Office 365, and Zoom integrations), student services (Okra Kard ID system, DSU C.A.R.E.S. reporting), and continuing education offerings. The institution operates with a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and provides $0 out-of-state tuition with 400+ scholarships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• College of Business and Aviation: College offering programs in accounting, management, computer information systems, geospatial analysis and intelligence, marketing, and aviation. Houses the only bachelor's and master's aviation degree program in the state of Mississippi.
• College of Education, Arts, and Humanities
• College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences
• Delta Music Institute (DMI)
• Lady Statesmen
• Fighting Okra
• Statesmen

Products and services

• Delta Music Institute (DMI) Music and entertainment industry program featuring world-class recording facilities, GRAMMY U opportunities, GRAMMY Museum Mississippi partnership, and a traveling Mobile Recording Studio; serves students pursuing music production and entertainment industry careers.
• Commercial Aviation Program Academic program providing flight training and aviation management education; the only four-year university in Mississippi offering both bachelor's and master's degrees in commercial aviation.
• Geospatial Information Technologies Interdisciplinary academic program under the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information, offering world-leading, industry-acclaimed training in geospatial analysis and intelligence.
• Nursing Programs (including RN to BSN Online) Nursing and health sciences academic programs across undergraduate and graduate levels, including the #1 RN-to-BSN online program nationally and #2 most affordable master's in nursing online nationally; includes speech and hearing sciences and social work.
• Teacher Education Programs Undergraduate and graduate teacher preparation programs partnering with the Mississippi Department of Education for K-12 educator preparation.
• Online Programs 20+ fully online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels plus certificate programs across business, education, nursing, and social sciences; designed for flexible remote learning.
• College of Business and Aviation College offering academic programs in accounting, management, computer information systems, geospatial analysis and intelligence, marketing, and aviation; ACBSP-accredited and home to the state's only bachelor's and master's aviation degree program.
• College of Education, Arts, and Humanities College offering undergraduate and graduate programs in education, humanities, social sciences, and arts; CAEP-accredited for educator preparation and CACREP-accredited for counseling programs.
• College of Nursing, Health, and Sciences College offering programs in nursing, biology, environmental science, speech and hearing sciences, counseling, social work, and health and human performance.
• Graduate Programs (Master's, Specialist, Doctoral) Advanced degree offerings comprising 12 master's, 3 specialist, and 2 doctoral programs across business, education, nursing, and aviation disciplines.
• Honors Program Enhanced academic program for high-achieving students offering additional challenges and opportunities beyond standard curricula.
• Summer School Term offering undergraduate and graduate courses during summer months, enabling students to accelerate degree completion or catch up on studies.
• Continuing Education Non-credit courses, workshops, certificate programs, and personal enrichment classes open to the public and taught by industry experts; includes children's summer camps.
• Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) On-campus performing arts center presenting nationally touring concerts, Broadway musicals, dance performances, and live comedy events throughout the year.
• Wiley Planetarium Educational facility offering astronomy and space science programs and public shows; the only planetarium in Mississippi.
• GRAMMY Museum Mississippi The only GRAMMY Museum outside of Los Angeles, located on Delta State's campus; draws visitors from around the world to learn about American music and supports Delta Music Institute programs.
• Delta Center for Culture and Learning University center promoting and celebrating the unique heritage of the Mississippi Delta while addressing social, economic, and cultural challenges in the region.
• Gertrude C. Ford Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty development office supporting the application of technology to teaching and quality enhancement for regional accreditation.

Quantifiable outcome

• #1 RN to BSN online program nationally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nile University of NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Scientists from Delta State University collaborated with Nile University of Nigeria on theoretical physics research demonstrating quantum wavefunction collapse exhibits directional bias using stochastic Ito field reversal within cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
• Kellogg FoundationcoreOthersDelta State partners with the Kellogg Foundation in providing leadership training and development programs for the twenty-first century, supporting the university's commitment to regional leadership development.
• Delta CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta State partners with Delta Council for leadership training and regional advancement initiatives, collaborating on programs committed to serving future generations in the Delta region.
• Delta Regional AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Delta Regional Authority for regional economic development and leadership training, supporting the university's mission to advance the Delta region.
• Delta Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta State leads the Delta Health Alliance partnership conducting research and providing education on healthcare needs in the region. University extends resources to support regional health through nursing and health sciences programs.
• Delta Arts AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Delta Arts Alliance preserves and enhances arts throughout the region, complementing university arts programs and supporting cultural development in the Mississippi Delta.
• Mississippi Valley State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with Mississippi Valley State University as part of Delta educational collaboration network, working together to raise the educational level of citizens in the Delta region.
• Coahoma Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity college partnership providing transfer pathways and educational opportunities, enabling seamless transition for students completing associate degrees to pursue bachelor's degrees.
• Mississippi Delta Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity college partnership providing transfer pathways and educational opportunities, enabling seamless transition for students completing associate degrees to pursue bachelor's degrees.
• GRAMMY Museum MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only GRAMMY Museum outside of Los Angeles is located on Delta State's campus in Cleveland. Draws visitors from around the world to learn about America's music in the birthplace of America's music. Supports Delta Music Institute programs.
• Mississippi Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mississippi Department of Education for teacher education programs and K-12 school collaborations, ensuring quality preparation of future educators for Delta schools.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mississippi State University: The state's land-grant research university with extensive engineering, business, and geospatial programs — directly overlapping Delta State's aviation, geospatial, and College of Business and Aviation offerings at significantly greater scale.
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss): Mississippi's flagship public research university. Operates a much broader portfolio in the same state, competing for out-of-state students with Delta State's $0 out-of-state pricing and pulling nursing, business, and aviation-adjacent applicants.
• University of Southern Mississippi: Large Mississippi public university with strong nursing, education, and arts programs. Competes for the same statewide pool of traditional undergraduates, transfer students, and online learners that Delta State targets.

Regional players

• Mississippi College: Private university in Clinton, MS with similar size, law/business/education/nursing offerings, and shared recruitment geography. Represents the private-institution alternative for the same Mississippi and out-of-state student pool.
• Belhaven University: Private Christian university in Jackson, MS with comparable enrollment scale and overlapping business, nursing, and arts programs. Competes for the same Mississippi-region students but with a different funding model and price point.

Direct peers

• University of West Alabama: Small public regional comprehensive university in Livingston, Alabama with similar enrollment scale, NCAA Division II athletics, and education/business/nursing portfolio. A near-twin in mission, athletics division, and tuition model.
• Mississippi University for Women: Small public university in Columbus, MS with comparable enrollment scale and a similar mix of nursing, education, and liberal-arts programs. Competes for the same in-state and out-of-state traditional and adult learner pools in Mississippi.
• Troy University: Alabama-based public regional comprehensive university known for strong online program delivery and similar mix of business, education, and nursing programs at a comparable enrollment scale — a useful comparator for Delta State's online growth strategy.
• Mississippi Valley State University: Public four-year university in Itta Bena, Mississippi, with similar small enrollment and a Delta-region mission. Already a documented Delta State partner for educational collaboration and one of the closest direct comparables in size, geography, and student demographics.
• Jackson State University: Mississippi's largest public HBCU with comparable graduate and doctoral program offerings. Competes for the same Mississippi-resident graduate, online, and out-of-state student segments across nursing, education, and business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/dsucommark
• Facebookfacebook.com/32310064199
• Instagraminstagram.com/deltastateuniversity
• Xx.com/deltastate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delta-state-university

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delta State University