Tougaloo College Facts

Founded in 1869, Tougaloo College is an independent, historically black, coeducational four-year liberal arts institution, located on the northern border of Jackson, Mississippi. Since its founding, the College has established a nationally recognized legacy of excellence, relevance and influence. Tougaloo College:

  • Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and boasts a mix of historic buildings and new architecture that always nods to the College’s historic past that sits on 500 acres of prime land.
  • The campus features historic and modern facilities such as the Robert O. Wilder Mansion, Woodworth Chapel, Kincheloe Hall, Holmes Hall, Zenobia Coleman Library, Galloway Hall, Edward Blackmon Administration Building, Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center, and the Owens Health and Wellness Center.
  • Has a storied history and is referred to as the “Cradle of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi” because of the significant role the College played in advancing the fundamental principles of equality, freedom, justice and America’s promise.
  • Holds one of the most significant college art collections in the region, featuring over 1,150 works, the oldest of which are more than 400-500 years old on display in the Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center.
  • Is proud of its 50-year old nationally recognized research partnership with Brown University that offers Student Semester Exchange Program, Civil Rights Mini-exchange Program, the Black Lavender Experience Mini-exchange Program, Early Identification Programs in Medicine and Public Health, and most recently, the Health Equity Scholars Program to expand voices and perspectives of African Americans in public health careers.
  • Collaborates with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Tufts Medical and Dental Schools, Boston College, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, Mississippi College School of Law, and Mississippi State University that offer student/faculty exchange opportunities, three-plus-two academic programs, and joint research.
  • One of three partners (Tougaloo, Jackson State University, the University of Mississippi Medical Center) in the nationally recognized Jackson Heart Study, the largest single site prospective epidemiologic investigation of cardiovascular disease among African Americans.Tougaloo is a regional hub for Apple's Community Education initiative and Tennessee State University's HBCU C2 initiative designed to bring coding and creativity experiences to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their communities. 
  • Tougaloo is a partner with the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where Tougaloo students can pursue graduate education and doctoral degrees.
  • Tougaloo is a partner with Regis University Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities to share online, credit-bearing courses and programs, offering students course flexibility and variety.
  • Tougaloo is home to The Institute of Modern Day Slavery, the only one of its kind at an HBCU.
  • Ranks among the top 25 U.S. institutions whose graduates earn their Ph.D.s in the science and engineering disciplines and among the top 15 historically black colleges and universities in the graduation of females with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences.
  • The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report consistently list Tougaloo College as one of the “Best Colleges in the Southeast” and the most recent rankings of U.S. News and World Report list Tougaloo #14 among the top 20 “America’s Best Black Colleges.”
  • The National Science Foundation ranks Tougaloo among the top 25 U.S. institutions who graduate their Ph.D. degrees in science and engineering disciplines and ranks it among the top 15 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the graduation of females with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences.
  • Tougaloo College has historically produced over 40% of the African American physicians and dentists, practicing in the state of Mississippi, more than 33% of the state’s African American attorneys and educators including teachers, principals, school superintendents, college/university faculty and administrators.
  • According to the recently released study conducted by UNCF, Tougaloo generated $42 million in total economic impact to its regional economy. This number measures spending by the College on faculty, employees, academic programs and operations; spending by students attending the institution, as well as the follow-on effects of that spending; and spending by current and prospective students and their families, as well as faculty, staff, and the public attending Tougaloo’s signature events, lectures, and other cultural activities. Tougaloo created and sustained 552 jobs. For each job created, another public- or private-sector job is created in the community because of Tougaloo College-related spending. Essentially, each $1 million initially spent by Tougaloo College and its students create 19 jobs.
  • Tougaloo College is home to the Jackson Public School-Tougaloo Early College High School. 
  • Tougaloo College:
    • Has a distinguished, multi-racial faculty, over 70 % of whom hold terminal degrees in their fields
    • Offers a student/faculty ratio of 15:1, ensuring personalized attention for all students
    • Aids and encourages its students to identify, develop, and integrate service passions, career interests, and academic pursuits
    • Sends over 60% of graduates to graduate or professional schools immediately after graduation.
  • The College offers the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in 29 majors in the areas of education, humanities, social science and natural science. It also offers the associate of arts degree in early childhood education and child development.
  • Tougaloo College competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division I and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in baseball, basketball, cross country, tennis, and volleyball.
  • Tougaloo entered into a multi-year partnership with NIKE through BSN SPORTS to make NIKE the official apparel of Tougaloo College Athletics. BSN SPORTS is a one-stop provider for all collegiate athletic, intramural, club, and staff apparel and equipment to all D1, DII, D3, NJCAA, and NAIA schools. Nike is the industry leader in athletic apparel.
  • Tougaloo recently partnered with J5, an SBA Hub Zone and Nationally Minority Certified Project Management firm to help develop and advance our programs in environmental science, public health, health disparities and biomedical sciences.