On October 1, 1962, escorted by United States Marshals, he became the first black student to attend the University of Mississippi. His admission was regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of the civil rights movement.
In 2002, the University of Mississippi commemorated the 40th anniversary of his historic admission and integration of the institution with numerous events. A statue of James Meredith was installed on campus in his honor.
In 2012, he received the Medal of Education Impact from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was the school's convocation speaker. Meredith said this was the first award in 50 years he has accepted.