Indian River State College vs. University of Southern Mississippi

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

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
Location Fort Pierce, FL Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 14,862 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website irsc.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $2,496 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $9,360 $11,340
Room & Board $8,670 $11,338
Avg Net Price $5,019 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $5,563 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 91%

Admission

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,051
Admitted - 8,946
Acceptance Rate Open 98.8%
Enrolled % Open 18.2%
Avg High School GPA - 3.5
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 2, 2025

Academics

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 27:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate - 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,600 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,709 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $69 $258

Diversity

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 40% 35%
% Women 60% 65%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 61%
% Black 17% 30%
% Hispanic 20% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Indian River State College University of Southern Mississippi
% In-State 99% 70%
% Out-of-State 1% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Indian River State College is larger than than University of Southern Mississippi based on total student enrollment (14,862 students vs. 13,526 students)

Indian River State College vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Indian River State College or University of Southern Mississippi?

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 274.2% more expensive to attend than Indian River State College for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $2,496.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.2% higher at University of Southern Mississippi than Indian River State College ($11,340.00 vs. $9,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indian River State College than University of Southern Mississippi ($5,019 vs. $14,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indian River State College are 30.8% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($8,670 vs. $11,338)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Indian River State College as University of Southern Mississippi (91% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 67.1% larger than aid received Indian River State College ($9,296 vs. $5,563)

Which college is harder to get into, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College .

Indian River State College vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Indian River State College 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 Indian River State College.

  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $10,100 more per year than Indian River State College graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $31,600)
  • Indian River State College students graduate with a $18,291 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($6,709 vs. $25,000)
  • Indian River State College graduates are paying $189 less per month on federal student loans than University of Southern Mississippi graduates. ($69 vs. $258)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Indian River State College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 38%)

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