New numbers released by the state College Board show total enrollment is up slightly at Mississippi’s eight public universities this fall.

The rise of 0.4 percent marks the 11th year in a row the state’s universities have increased their student numbers. Just under 70,000 students attend the schools.

The University of Southern Mississippi lost about 1,000 students after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. This fall, it has almost rebounded to pre-Katrina levels.

“We thought it would be a two or three year process,” said Joe Paul, USM’s vice president for student affairs. “But we’ve virtually done it all in one year.”

Mississippi State University remains the state’s largest school, according to the numbers released this week. Mississippi University for Women saw the largest percentage increase.