Henderson State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi

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

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Location Arkadelphia, AR Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 2,519 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $11,340
Room & Board $9,558 $11,338
Avg Net Price $17,656 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 91%

Admission

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 9,051
Admitted 1,657 8,946
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 98.8%
Enrolled % 24.9% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 19/26
SAT Range 903/1073
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 31% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $258

Diversity

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 61%
% Black 24% 30%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Henderson State University University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 81% 70%
% Out-of-State 19% 27%

Campus

Henderson 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 Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 58.8% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.2% higher at University of Southern Mississippi than Henderson State University ($11,340.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Mississippi than Henderson State University ($14,427 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 18.6% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($9,558 vs. $11,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than Henderson State University (91% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 3.1% larger than aid received University of Southern Mississippi ($9,580 vs. $9,296)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 61 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

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

Which is better, Henderson 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 Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Henderson State University (47% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $3,300 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($19,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($201 vs. $258)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 48%)

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