University of South Alabama vs. Mississippi State

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

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Location Mobile, AL Mississippi State, MS
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 13,438 22,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #523
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $9,248
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $25,294
Room & Board $8,510 $10,964
Avg Net Price $15,664 $15,364
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $14,252
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 18,830
Admitted 8,203 14,158
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 75.2%
Enrolled % 19.7% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.58
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 21/29
SAT Range 1003/1200 1070/1280
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 39% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $253 $240

Diversity

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
% Men 32% 49%
% Women 68% 51%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 72%
% Black 24% 20%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
% In-State 73% 59%
% Out-of-State 25% 40%

Campus

University of South Alabama Mississippi State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than University of South Alabama based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 13,438 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Mississippi State?

  • Mississippi State University is 7.3% more expensive to attend than University of South Alabama for in-state tuition ($9,248.00 vs. $8,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.8% higher at Mississippi State than University of South Alabama ($25,294.00 vs. $17,232.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than University of South Alabama ($15,364 vs. $15,664)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 28.8% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($8,510 vs. $10,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than University of South Alabama (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 85.4% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($14,252 vs. $7,686)

University of South Alabama vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or University of South Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 95 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at University of South Alabama (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than University of South Alabama (60% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than University of South Alabama graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $45,200)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,500)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($240 vs. $253)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

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