AAMU vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and University of Southern Mississippi? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
University of Southern Mississippi

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi No

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than AAMU based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 7,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

AAMU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or University of Southern Mississippi? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Mississippi than AAMU ($15,095 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 4.3% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($11,402 vs. $11,920).
  • Alabama A & M University is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $26 more per year; $10,024.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.3% higher at AAMU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $6,636 more per year; $18,634.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Alabama A & M University (95% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 17.8% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($12,844 vs. $10,900).

AAMU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or University of Southern Mississippi? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Southern Mississippi and AAMU.

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; University of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 25% at University of Southern Mississippi.

AAMU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and University of Southern Mississippi? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Southern Mississippi's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($25,000 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($258 vs. $361).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.