Columbus State vs. University of Southern Mississippi

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

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
Location Columbus, GA Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 7,479 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $11,340
Room & Board $12,080 $11,338
Avg Net Price $12,902 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 91%

Admission

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 9,051
Admitted 3,398 8,946
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 98.8%
Enrolled % 30.4% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 19/26
SAT Range 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 31% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 61%
% Black 37% 30%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Columbus State University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 92% 70%
% Out-of-State 5% 27%

Campus

Columbus 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 Columbus State based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 7,479 students)

Columbus State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 113.7% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36% higher at Columbus State than University of Southern Mississippi ($15,425.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($12,902 vs. $14,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Mississippi are 6.5% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($11,338 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbus State University than University of Southern Mississippi (98% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 1.6% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($9,296 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus 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 Columbus State .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 88 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Columbus State (20)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Columbus State (87.8%)

Columbus State vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus 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 Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Columbus State University (47% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $4,300 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $37,400)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Columbus State graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 37%)

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