PSC vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Polk State College 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.

University of Southern Mississippi

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • PSC Winter Haven, FL
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • PSC Small City
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • PSC 10,318
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • PSC Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PSC -
  • 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 $2,694
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PSC $9,817
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • PSC $12,186
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • PSC $10,011
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PSC $3,305
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PSC 72%
  • 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 Open
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • PSC Open
  • 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 -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PSC -
  • 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 Open admission
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • PSC
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PSC 19:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PSC -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PSC $34,000
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PSC 40%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PSC $9,500
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PSC $98
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PSC 36%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • PSC 64%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PSC High
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • PSC No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • PSC 53%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • PSC 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • PSC 17%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • PSC 20%
  • 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 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PSC 4%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PSC 85%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PSC 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL 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. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Polk State College is located in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Polk State College 19:1; 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 Polk State College than University of Southern Mississippi ($10,011 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Mississippi are 2.2% lower than at Polk State College ($11,920 vs. $12,186).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 271.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $7,304 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $2,694.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at University of Southern Mississippi than at Polk State College (about $2,181 more per year; $11,998.00 vs. $9,817.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Polk State College (95% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 229.8% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($10,900 vs. $3,305).

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.

  • Polk State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Open admission; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.

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).

  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($9,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, PSC graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($98 vs. $258).
  • 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. 40%)

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.