The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is the flagship university for the state of Mississippi and a world-class public research institution with an enrollment just over 23,000. Consistently named one of the most beautiful college campuses, Ole Miss is located in the town of Oxford: a cultural, historic city with a thriving creative community and a vibrant and charming downtown.
SHORTCUTS
Stay: The Graduate | Breakfast: Big Bad Breakfast
Lunch: Ajax Diner | Dinner: City Grocery
Visitor Information: Tour Ole Miss
Transportation: The closest airport to Oxford is the Memphis International Airport (MEM). Memphis is approximately an hour and a half from Oxford. As there are no shuttle buses it is best to rent a car for your visit. If you're visiting campus on a weekday, be sure to order your guest parking pass online or purchase one in person at the welcome booth near the Lyceum Circle entrance.
Stay: Check in to the Graduate Oxford, just a mile from the Ole Miss campus and located on The Square, the cultural and economic heart of the city. Graduate hotels are an exciting new collection of hotels—opening unique, well-curated properties exclusively in college towns across the country. More than just a place to sleep, it’s a local hub. Other good options include The Chancellor’s House, near Oxford Square on the corner of University and Lamar or The Inn at Ole Miss (be sure to ask for a renovated room), right on campus and offering a shuttle service to downtown Oxford.
Coffee: Grab a coffee at Cabin 82 in the Graduate Hotel where it’s not uncommon to see students studying, especially during finals week. Another student favorite is Uptown Coffee; a local roaster serving high quality brews. On campus students start their day at either Einstein Brothers Bagels in Anderson Hall or at the Starbucks located in the Library or in Coulter Hall.
Breakfast: Bottletree Bakery is a casual, quick stop for baked goods and pastries and we hear the best cinnamon roll in town. The Beacon, an old-school diner, is an Oxford staple for a down-home Southern breakfast. It’s worth making time for Big Bad Breakfast, commonly referred to as "BBB," with breakfast skillets to die for served with their made from scratch buttermilk biscuits.
Lunch: Everyone raves about the pizza at the James Beard finalist, The Saint Leo. For a taste of the South, head to Ajax Diner serving up po’boys and plate lunches alongside killer Bloody Marys. One alum raves about their country fried steak, mashed potatoes and rice casserole, her first stop whenever visiting Oxford. Want something quick? One Ole Miss student states: “Go to The Blind Pig Pub - they consistently win best sandwich in town in The Local Voice’s annual Townie Choice Awards. Their Reuben is possibly the BEST in Mississippi, but my choice is the Katie Top Black Bean burger, named after my friend and an Oxford local.”
Dinner
Casual: Enjoy a craft cocktail, live music, an assortment of cornmeal tamales or sliders with a side of queso fries at The Coop, the 4th-floor terrace and lounge at The Graduate Hotel. Jinsei serves the best sushi in town, just off the Square. One student loves "make a whole meal out of appetizers and sake.” Enjoy a soulful slice of pizza at Soulshine Pizza Factory, a beloved student eatery.
A Step Up: James Beard award-winning chef John Currence is the man responsible for putting Oxford on the culinary map. His flagship restaurant City Grocery should be your number one choice in Oxford for inventive Southern food. Snack Bar, Chef Currence's newest restaurant, is a mix of a Southern café. His French bistro, Boure, showcases “up-scale, down-home” Creole cuisine. (He also owns the previously mentioned Big, Bad, Breakfast) Parents rave about the food and atmosphere at McEwen's.
Worth the Drive: It’s just a 15-minute ride to nearby Taylor, Mississippi where you’ll find what’s been called the best front porch in the country at Taylor Grocery. Open only Thursday-Sunday starting at 5 pm, they do not take reservations, and it's strictly BYOB.There’s a full menu, but people come for the all you can eat catfish dinners served with hushpuppies and two sides. There’s often live music to complete the experience!
Late Night Snack: 4 Corners Chevron, open 24 hours, is the spot for late night eats. One student told us:“Chevron is an Oxford must for their secret grilled cheese and chicken on a stick!”
Local Attractions: Literary fans will love a visit to Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s Greek Revival home from 1930 until his death in 1962. (Now operated by the University as a museum.) Students affectionately refer to it as “Ole Bill’s house.” Continue your literary tour at Square Books on the Oxford Square, where the front of the store features classic Mississippi writers such as Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams and Walker Percy and modern-day names such as John Grisham and Donna Tartt. On the National Register of historic places, The Lyric, once a silent movie theater, has been converted into a live music venue. Check their site to see the schedule for upcoming events. On a nice day visit beautiful Lamar Park, once home of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, former U.S. Senator and Supreme Court Justice.
LIVE FROM CAMPUS
— Quotes From Campus —
“There is nothing quite like gameday at Ole Miss—we definitely have the best tailgating in the country—hands down. You need to experience being at the Grove at least once in your life! As the saying goes—“We may not win every game, but we ain’t ever lost a party!”
“Someone is always there to help you when you need it at Ole Miss. I guarantee you will have the best four…or five…years of your life. When you think of the perfect college experience, Ole Miss sums it up. ”
“Ole Miss and everything that encompasses the name is something to be proud of. The school, the sports, the buildings, and the history give this town life. There is something for everyone in Oxford, MS.”
“As far as college towns go, you’re not going to find a town friendlier than us. Everyone is super sweet here and I guarantee you could ask anyone on the street any random question you have about the area and they would be happy to help you out! True Southern hospitality and all that good stuff.”
“The University of Mississippi really tries to promote the arts here in Oxford. We’re a beacon of Southern culture.”
OLE MISS FAST FACTS
Established
1848
Mascot
Rebel Black Bear
School Colors
Yale Blue and Harvard Crimson
Acceptance Rate
78.3%
Common Application
No
Supplement Essays
Yes
Early Action/Decision
Rolling
SAT
Average - 1200
ACT
Average - 25
Type
Public
Size
Big - 17,852 Undergraduates
Website
Region
Admissions Office
145 Martindale
PO BOX 1848
University, MS 38677-1848
(p) (662) 915-7226
(f) (662) 915-5869
admissions@olemiss.edu
Sports Divisions
NCAA Division I
Greek Life
Yes
Noteworthy Alumni
Eli Manning
John Grisham
William Faulkner
Archie Manning
SHOP
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
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