Jackson State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi

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

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Location Jackson, MS Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 6,906 13,526
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #961 #874
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu usm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Tuition (In State) $8,270 $9,340
Tuition (Out of State) $8,270 $11,340
Room & Board $10,445 $11,338
Avg Net Price $15,292 $14,427
Avg Grant Aid $8,694 $9,296
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 91%

Admission

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,583 9,051
Admitted 11,153 8,946
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 98.8%
Enrolled % 10.1% 18.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21 19/26
SAT Range 1073/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
Graduation Rate 40% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $299 $258

Diversity

Jackson State University University of Southern Mississippi
% Men 33% 35%
% Women 67% 65%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 61%
% Black 92% 30%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

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

Campus

Jackson 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 Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 6,906 students)

Jackson State University vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 12.9% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.1% higher at University of Southern Mississippi than Jackson State University ($11,340.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Mississippi than Jackson State University ($14,427 vs. $15,292)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 8.5% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,445 vs. $11,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than Jackson State University (91% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 6.9% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($9,296 vs. $8,694)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 139 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (98.8%) than Jackson State University (88.6%)

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

Which is better, Jackson 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 Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Jackson State University (47% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $8,900 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $32,800)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $29,000)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($258 vs. $299)
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 36%)

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