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UT Arlington GS KSU Georgia State Mississippi State University of West Georgia UL Lafayette VSU Clayton State University Ole Miss TROY Albany State University| Columbus State University | University of Southern Mississippi | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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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/