In a news release, Interim Chancellor Larry Sparks stated that the University of Mississippi is a publicly funded institution. “This study confirms the university’s substantial impact on Mississippi supporting industry, benefiting society, and from an expanded economy, to a better quality of life. University of Mississippi News highlights: The University of Mississippi enables 43.121 jobs across Mississippi, which means that one in 37 Mississippi jobs is supported by the activities of UM students. Mississippi taxpayers contributed $121.5 million to funding UM Oxford and its regional campuses in FY 2016-17. Taxpayers will be able to receive an estimated present worth of $442.9million in tax revenue, due to the higher lifetime earnings and greater business output of students. The impact of the University revealed that there was a $4.40 return in state tax revenue and savings in public sector for every dollar spent on state funds supporting it.