Alcorn State University takes pride in its early beginning in 1871, as the first public African-American institution for higher education in the United States. At the time, the state of Mississippi, guided by governor, James Alcorn, supported the purchase of Oakland College, a land-grant institution located in Claiborne County, as a means to provide education and training for male descendants of freed slaves after the Civil War. The college quickly grew, adding additional acreage, and changing its name to Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. Later, women were allowed to enroll, and by 1974, the college officially transitioned to Alcorn State University.

Alcorn State University awards undergraduate degrees through the following schools:

• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business
• School of Education and Psychology
• School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
• School of Nursing

Alcorn State University supports distance education programs for the added convenience of working professionals and nontraditional students. Various programs support on-campus and online coursework. Distance learners have access to resources, such as technical support, and will access assignments and lectures through online platforms.