The Historical Bearcat Tour

Rust College is the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Mississippi, providing over 158 Years of quality education.

Established in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, its founders were missionaries who opened a school in Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. The school accepted adults of all ages, as well as children, for instruction in elementary subjects. A year later the first building on the present campus was erected.

In 1870, the school was chartered as Shaw University, honoring the Reverend S.O. Shaw, who gave $10,000 to the new institution. In 1892, the name was changed Rust University to avoid confusion with another HBCU, Shaw University, in Raleigh, NC. The name Rust was a tribute to Richard S. Rust of Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary of the Freedman’s Aid Society. In 1915, the name was changed again to Rust College.