CAU vs. University of Southern Mississippi

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

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
Location Atlanta, GA Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 4,000 13,526
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #874
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $11,340
Room & Board $10,982 $11,338
Avg Net Price $30,015 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 91%

Admission

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 9,051
Admitted 9,088 8,946
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 98.8%
Enrolled % 12.7% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 19/26
SAT Range 880/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 41% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $258

Diversity

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 24% 35%
% Women 76% 65%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 61%
% Black 84% 30%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 13% 1%

Students

CAU University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 27% 70%
% Out-of-State 72% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

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

  • Clark Atlanta University is 135% more expensive to attend than University of Southern Mississippi for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $9,340.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 93.5% higher at CAU than University of Southern Mississippi ($21,948.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Mississippi than CAU ($14,427 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark Atlanta University are 3.2% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,982 vs. $11,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than Clark Atlanta University (91% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark Atlanta University students is 1.5% larger than aid received University of Southern Mississippi ($9,431 vs. $9,296)

CAU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU 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 CAU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 199 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU 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 CAU.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Clark Atlanta University (47% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $3,300 more per year than CAU graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $38,400)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 30%)

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