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Hattiesburg , MS
The University of Southern Mississippi, often referred to as USM, is a public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. With its mission of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, USM has established itself as a leading institution in the Gulf South region. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across several disciplines, including business, health sciences, education, arts and sciences, and engineering.
USM stands out for its commitment to providing students with a transformative educational experience. The university houses state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, which facilitates research and innovation. Additionally, USM boasts numerous Centers of Excellence in areas like polymer science, marine science, and child development. These centers provide students with opportunities for hands-on learning, research collaborations, and valuable industry connections.
Beyond academics, USM offers a vibrant campus life filled with opportunities for personal growth and involvement. The university has over 250 student organizations covering a wide range of interests, from academic and professional clubs to cultural and recreational groups. Students can also enjoy a variety of NCAA Division I sports teams, including football, basketball, baseball, and softball. The university's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice is reflected in its many programs and initiatives that promote equality and foster an inclusive environment for all students. Overall, the University of Southern Mississippi provides a dynamic and supportive environment that prepares graduates to excel in their chosen field and make a positive impact on society.
Located in Hattiesburg, MS and set in a suburban environment, University of Southern Mississippi is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 99%. The freshman retention rate at University of Southern Mississippi is 70.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 41%.
Read more about what University of Southern Mississippi has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
10,012
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
41%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of Southern Mississippi and what are the admission requirements?
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,763 in 2024. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 15.9, 28.27 between 24-29, 39.52 in the range between 18-23, 16.08 between 12-17, and 0.24 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 23 while the average GPA was 3.4. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Southern Mississippi; the same goes for your ACT score.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for University of Southern Mississippi was 70.5%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 41%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 13,110 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 14.41. There was a total of 10,012 undergrad students, including 294 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,367 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 3,530 male and 6,327 female full-time students in 2024. There were 576 full-time graduate male and 996 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 146 Asian students and 2,800 Afro-American students in 2024. 466 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 405 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 41 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 72 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for University of Southern Mississippi is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $9,240 for area residents. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $11,256. Tuition costs at University of Southern Mississippi for international students amounted to $11,256. Full-time students in 2024 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $110.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $11,256 | $110 | $11,366 |
| In-State | $9,240 | $110 | $9,350 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $852.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at University of Southern Mississippi was $11,920 in 2024.
| Tuition | $ 9,240 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,920 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 852 |
| Total Expense | $ 22,012 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Southern Mississippi, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 1,087 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $12,351 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 4,296 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 6,127. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $26,532,706, and state $7,510,693. The students of University of Southern Mississippi received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $10,711,459, and external in the amount of $1,555,666.
$7,414
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
4,007 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 776 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $26,532,706 while the state aid is $2,598,298. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $18,845,962. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,320,163 USD.
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2024, this ratio at University of Southern Mississippi was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 869 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 412 men and 457 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at University of Southern Mississippi.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Southern Mississippi is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at University of Southern Mississippi.
It has a campus size of 1,090 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 239 open-membership organizations at University of Southern Mississippi. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 10 and female students 14. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Southern Mississippi band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? University of Southern Mississippi publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of Southern Mississippi, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Southern Mississippi.
All in all, campus life at University of Southern Mississippi is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Southern Mississippi.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 41,982 USD.
$41,982
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for University of Southern Mississippi is 99%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of Southern Mississippi is 70.5%.
Contact Information
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive
Hattiesburg , MS
39406-0001
601 266-1000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.