University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU

Deciding between University of Southern Mississippi and Norfolk State 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
Norfolk State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • NSU Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • NSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • NSU 6,053
  • Type
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • NSU #988
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • NSU -
  • Status
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • NSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • NSU $10,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • NSU $21,682
  • Room & Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • NSU $11,591
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • NSU $9,124
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • NSU $15,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%
  • NSU 75%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • NSU 11,247
  • Admitted
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • NSU 9,871
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • NSU 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • NSU 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • NSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • NSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • NSU 2.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • NSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • NSU
  • ACT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • NSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • NSU 823/1030
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • NSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • NSU May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • NSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • NSU
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • NSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • NSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • NSU 27%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • NSU $31,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258
  • NSU $320

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • NSU 33%
  • % Women
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • NSU 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • NSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • NSU Yes
  • % White
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • NSU 5%
  • % Asian
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • NSU 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • NSU 84%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • NSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • NSU 4%
  • % International
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • NSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • NSU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • NSU 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%
  • NSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 6,053 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting); Norfolk State University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Norfolk State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern Mississippi 18:1; Norfolk State University 15:1.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or NSU? 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 Norfolk State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($9,124 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 2.8% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($11,591 vs. $11,920).
  • Norfolk State University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $182 more per year; $10,180.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.7% higher at NSU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $9,684 more per year; $21,682.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Norfolk State University (95% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 38.1% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($15,056 vs. $10,900).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Admissions comparison

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

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNorfolk State University 823/1030.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern Mississippi 19/26; Norfolk State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Southern Mississippi - Required; NSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NSU May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at NSU (2.9).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than NSU (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25% at University of Southern Mississippi vs. 13.2% at NSU.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Southern Mississippi and NSU? 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 Norfolk State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $36,700), 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 NSU 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 NSU graduates ($258 vs. $320).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 27%)

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.