University of Southern Mississippi vs. Bethel

Deciding between University of Southern Mississippi and Bethel University? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bethel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%
  • Bethel 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bethel

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258
  • Bethel $292

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Bethel 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%
  • Bethel 11%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS with Bethel University in McKenzie, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern Mississippi 18:1; Bethel University 15:1.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or Bethel? 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 Bethel University than University of Southern Mississippi ($13,112 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 11.6% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,538 vs. $11,920).
  • Bethel University is 87.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $8,714 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56% higher at Bethel than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $6,714 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethel University than at University of Southern Mississippi (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 62.4% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($17,700 vs. $10,900).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Southern Mississippi or Bethel? 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 Bethel and University of Southern Mississippi.

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at Bethel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern Mississippi 19/26; Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Southern Mississippi - Required; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at University of Southern Mississippi (3.5).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25% at University of Southern Mississippi vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Southern Mississippi and Bethel? 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 Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than University of Southern Mississippi graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($25,000 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($258 vs. $292).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 33%)

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.