Bowie State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Should I go to Bowie State University or University of Southern Mississippi? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University 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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Bowie State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi comparison
Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi College 3 College 4
Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
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Overview

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
Location Bowie, MD Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,275 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #962 #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $11,340
Room & Board $12,468 $11,338
Avg Net Price $13,886 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 91%

Admission

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 9,051
Admitted 4,712 8,946
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 98.8%
Enrolled % 25.2% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 800/1048
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 41% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $258

Diversity

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 37% 35%
% Women 63% 65%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 61%
% Black 86% 30%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Bowie State University University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 78% 70%
% Out-of-State 19% 27%

Campus

Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 6,275 students)

Bowie State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 60.7% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.8% higher at Bowie State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($16,533.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($13,886 vs. $14,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Mississippi are 10% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,338 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than Bowie State University (91% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 1.8% larger than aid received University of Southern Mississippi ($9,463 vs. $9,296)

Bowie State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 166 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Bowie State University (86.5%)

Bowie State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Bowie State University (47% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $8,800 more per year than University of Southern Mississippi graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $41,700)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $609 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($24,391 vs. $25,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 29%)

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