PSC vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Philander Smith University and University of Southern Mississippi? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Philander Smith University
University of Southern Mississippi

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PSC Little Rock, AR
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • PSC Midsize City
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • PSC 780
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • PSC Private 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PSC United Methodist
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • PSC Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PSC $13,014
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PSC $13,014
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • PSC $10,000
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • PSC $14,082
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PSC $14,283
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PSC 99%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PSC -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • PSC -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • PSC 3.04
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PSC B
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PSC Unavailable
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PSC Not reported
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PSC 11:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PSC
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Human Services (9%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PSC 31%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PSC $26,800
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PSC 35%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PSC $31,000
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PSC $320
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PSC 48%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • PSC 52%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PSC Very Low
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • PSC Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • PSC 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • PSC 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • PSC 91%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • PSC 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • PSC 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PSC 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PSC 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • PSC 5%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PSC 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PSC 40%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PSC 29%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • PSC Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • PSC No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • Meal Plan
  • PSC Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • PSC Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • PSC No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No

Comparable Facts

Compare Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 780 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Philander Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Philander Smith University 11:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

PSC vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or University of Southern Mississippi? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Philander Smith University than University of Southern Mississippi ($14,082 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith University are 16.1% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,000 vs. $11,920).
  • Philander Smith University is 30.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $3,016 more per year; $13,014.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at PSC than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $1,016 more per year; $13,014.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Philander Smith University than at University of Southern Mississippi (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Philander Smith University students is 31% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($14,283 vs. $10,900).

PSC vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or University of Southern Mississippi? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Southern Mississippi and PSC.

  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Not reported; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at PSC (3.04).

PSC vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and University of Southern Mississippi? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Southern Mississippi's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Philander Smith University's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($258 vs. $320).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 35%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.