Alabama State vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Should I go to Alabama State University or University of Southern Mississippi? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama State or University of Southern Mississippi is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi comparison
Alabama State University University of Southern Mississippi College 3 College 4
Alabama State University University of Southern Mississippi
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Overview

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Location Montgomery, AL Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 3,828 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1016 #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alasu.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $8,328 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $16,656 $11,340
Room & Board $6,050 $11,338
Avg Net Price $13,176 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $10,029 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 91%

Admission

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,731 9,051
Admitted 6,502 8,946
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 98.8%
Enrolled % 14.5% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 2.95 3.5
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/20 19/26
SAT Range 828/1041
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 26% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,500 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $32,091 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $331 $258

Diversity

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 35% 35%
% Women 65% 65%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 61%
% Black 93% 30%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 37% 70%
% Out-of-State 62% 27%

Campus

Alabama State University of Southern Mississippi
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than Alabama State based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 3,828 students)

Alabama State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or University of Southern Mississippi?

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 12.2% more expensive to attend than Alabama State for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $8,328.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.9% higher at Alabama State than University of Southern Mississippi ($16,656.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($13,176 vs. $14,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 87.4% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($6,050 vs. $11,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alabama State University than University of Southern Mississippi (97% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama State University students is 7.9% larger than aid received University of Southern Mississippi ($10,029 vs. $9,296)

Alabama State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or University of Southern Mississippi? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Southern Mississippi or Alabama State .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 205 points higher than at Alabama State (844)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Alabama State (18)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Alabama State (2.95)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Alabama State (96.6%)

Alabama State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama State or University of Southern Mississippi? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of Southern Mississippi and Alabama State.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Alabama State University (47% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $12,200 more per year than Alabama State graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $29,500)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $7,091 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama State graduates. ($25,000 vs. $32,091)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama State graduates. ($258 vs. $331)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/