University of Southern Mississippi Acceptance Rate &
University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with about 10,075 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 99.12% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $44,140 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,998
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,708 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 99.12% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,075 86.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 49.06%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 32.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 3.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1190
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,598
- Applicants (IPEDS): 8,818
- Room & Board: $11,920 annual estimate
University of Southern Mississippi: what the data shows
Common questions about University of Southern Mississippi, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS (ZIP 39406-0001).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is University of Southern Mississippi public or private?
University of Southern Mississippi is a Public institution.
How much does University of Southern Mississippi cost?
Published tuition: $9,998 in-state, $11,998 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $21,708.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,867 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,432 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,756 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,812 |
| $110,001+ | $26,542 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $39,992.
How hard is it to get into University of Southern Mississippi?
Admission rate: 99.12%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1190 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of Southern Mississippi?
Total enrollment: 10,075 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 11,598 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,977 students.
About 86% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi?
150%-time completion rate: 49.06%.
First-year retention: 72.1%.
What do graduates of University of Southern Mississippi earn?
Median earnings: $37,710 six years after entry; $44,140 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,500.
46.28% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of Southern Mississippi known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (323 completions)
- Library and Information Science (205 completions)
- Psychology, General (201 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (172 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (170 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (149 completions)
- Social Work (143 completions)
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration (126 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (113 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (112 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of Southern Mississippi a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 99.12%; completion rate 49.06%; median earnings $44,140 at 10 years; net price $21,708. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,998
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Southern Mississippi was $9,998.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,708
2024 Value
In 2024 University of Southern Mississippi had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,708.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,832 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,708 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$39,992 4-Year In-State Tuition
$47,992 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$11,920 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$852 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$22,770 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$91,080 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of Southern Mississippi.
Financial Aid by Income Level
46.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
47.75% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Southern Mississippi was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Southern Mississippi in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,744 | $15,024 | $12,423 |
| 2014 | $6,980 | $15,550 | $12,549 |
| 2015 | $7,334 | $16,204 | $12,175 |
| 2016 | $7,659 | $16,529 | $12,867 |
| 2017 | $8,218 | $10,218 | $13,178 |
| 2018 | $8,624 | $10,624 | $14,126 |
| 2019 | $8,896 | $10,896 | $14,923 |
| 2020 | $8,896 | $10,896 | $14,032 |
| 2021 | $9,204 | $11,204 | $13,863 |
| 2022 | $9,450 | $11,450 | $13,744 |
| 2023 | $9,618 | $11,618 | $14,224 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
99.12% Acceptance Rate
8,818 Total Applicants
8,763 Students Admitted
1,733 First-Time Students Enrolled
19.78% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1190
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Southern Mississippi reported total enrollment of about 10,075 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (56.2%), Black or African American (27.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (4.9%). About 46.28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Southern Mississippi in 2024 is 10,075 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 11,598 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,977 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 56.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
34.37% 100% Completion Time
49.06% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 34.37% of students graduating from University of Southern Mississippi completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% female
- Library and Information Science: 19% male / 81% female
- Psychology, General: 20% male / 80% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of Southern Mississippi.
Return on Investment
$22,500 Median Student Debt
$44,140 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
50.97% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
408.34% Return on Investment
5.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of Southern Mississippi.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 104 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 323 completions
2. Library and Information Science: 205 completions
3. Psychology, General: 201 completions
4. Elementary Education and Teaching: 172 completions
5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 170 completions
6. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 149 completions
7. Social Work: 143 completions
8. Higher Education/Higher Education Administration: 126 completions
9. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 113 completions
Most popular programs at University of Southern Mississippi.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of Southern Mississippi graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Southern Mississippi from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,697
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,263
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution located in Hattiesburg, MS, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Library and Information Science, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 10,075 students. Student body composition includes White (56.2%), Black or African American (27.1%), Hispanic or Latino (4.9%). The admission rate is 99.12%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1190. The 150%-time completion rate is 49.06%. Approximately 46.28% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 104 distinct degree programs, University of Southern Mississippi provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Southern Mississippi located?
University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS.
What is University of Southern Mississippi's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Southern Mississippi is 99.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 8,818 applicants and 8,763 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of Southern Mississippi cost?
Reported tuition is $9,998 and average net price is $21,708 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,920 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi reports undergraduate enrollment of about 11,598 students, White (56.2%), Black or African American (27.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Southern Mississippi?
About 32.6% of students at University of Southern Mississippi are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Southern Mississippi?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Southern Mississippi reports midpoint SAT about 1190 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of University of Southern Mississippi earn?
Median earnings are $37,710 six years after entry and $44,140 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi?
The 150%-time completion rate is 49.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Southern Mississippi students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,500.
Is University of Southern Mississippi public or private?
University of Southern Mississippi is a public institution located in Hattiesburg, MS.
Is University of Southern Mississippi an HBCU?
No. University of Southern Mississippi is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of Southern Mississippi a tribal college?
No. University of Southern Mississippi is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Mississippi college profile
- Mississippi college costs
- Mississippi colleges by ROI
- Mississippi State University vs University of Mississippi vs University of Southern Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Mississippi
- Mississippi college costs
- Mississippi colleges by ROI
- Mississippi State University vs University of Mississippi vs University of Southern Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Mississippi
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.