University of Southern Mississippi
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Mississippi residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 10,075 students.
About This School
University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with approximately 10,075 undergraduate students enrolled. University of Southern Mississippi has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 99%. The average net price after financial aid is $21,708 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $42,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university with its main campus in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity".
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $14,224/year after aid and only $14,250 in median debt at graduation, this is one of the more affordable paths to a research university degree, and its R1 classification means real academic resources for students who seek them out. The concern is the 51% graduation rate and 71% freshman retention — meaning roughly one in three students who start here don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before enrolling. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and self-motivated, but come in with a clear plan and connect with advisors early.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of Southern Mississippi graduates earn most above the national rate in Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($89,904 vs $80,890 nationally), and most below it in Marketing ($51,714 vs $69,303).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 212 | $40,932 | $47,382 | −$6,450 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 206 | $52,089 | $68,257 | −$16,168 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 168 | $72,411 | $88,910 | −$16,499 |
| Psychology, General | 167 | $37,925 | $50,706 | −$12,781 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 144 | $44,963 | $53,072 | −$8,109 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 127 | $54,909 | $54,562 | +$347 |
| Biology, General | 98 | $45,471 | $57,214 | −$11,743 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 83 | $33,936 | $48,568 | −$14,632 |
| Social Work | 72 | $42,390 | $51,790 | −$9,400 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 69 | $89,904 | $80,890 | +$9,014 |
| Marketing | 68 | $51,714 | $69,303 | −$17,589 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 58 | $51,381 | $58,928 | −$7,547 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (10,075 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive # 0001
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
University of Southern Mississippi is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi has an acceptance rate of 99%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of Southern Mississippi hard to get into?
Not especially. University of Southern Mississippi has an acceptance rate of 99%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does University of Southern Mississippi cost?
The average net price at University of Southern Mississippi is about $21,708 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi has a graduation rate of 49%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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