ULM vs. Mississippi State

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Louisiana at Monroe in Monroe, LA with Mississippi State University in Mississippi State, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mississippi State University is larger than ULM based on total student enrollment (23,150 students vs. 8,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Louisiana at Monroe is located in Monroe, LA (Small City setting); Mississippi State University is in Mississippi State, MS (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mississippi State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Louisiana at Monroe 18:1; Mississippi State University 16:1.

ULM vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ULM or Mississippi State? 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 University of Louisiana at Monroe than Mississippi State ($13,648 vs. $18,478).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Monroe are 18.2% lower than at Mississippi State University ($10,554 vs. $12,902).
• Mississippi State University is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than ULM (about $1,012 more per year; $10,202.00 vs. $9,190.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at Mississippi State than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (about $6,347 more per year; $27,637.00 vs. $21,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mississippi State University than at University of Louisiana at Monroe (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 3.9% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Monroe students ($13,852 vs. $13,338).

ULM vs. Mississippi State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ULM or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and ULM.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Louisiana at Monroe (1260) is 30 points higher than at Mississippi State (1230).
• Incoming Mississippi State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at ULM).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Monroe 1160/1360; Mississippi State University 1100/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Louisiana at Monroe 18/24; Mississippi State University 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ULM - Test optional; Mississippi State - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mississippi State Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at ULM (3.53).
• ULM has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Mississippi State (77.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.1% at ULM vs. 19.8% at Mississippi State.

ULM vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ULM and Mississippi State? 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).

• Mississippi State University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than University of Louisiana at Monroe's (33%).
• Graduates from Mississippi State University earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than ULM graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Monroe graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Mississippi State graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, ULM graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mississippi State graduates ($206 vs. $240).
• More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ULM students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 49%)

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.