University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU

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

University of Southern Mississippi NSU
Location Hattiesburg, MS Norfolk, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,526 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #874 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usm.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Southern Mississippi NSU
Tuition (In State) $9,340 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $11,340 $16,920
Room & Board $11,338 $10,844
Avg Net Price $14,427 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $9,296 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 91%

Admission

University of Southern Mississippi NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,051 8,884
Admitted 8,946 7,951
Acceptance Rate 98.8% 89.5%
Enrolled % 18.2% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 15/20
SAT Range 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 31, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

University of Southern Mississippi NSU
% Men 35% 33%
% Women 65% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 61% 5%
% Black 30% 84%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of Southern Mississippi NSU
% In-State 70% 65%
% Out-of-State 27% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 5,783 students)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or NSU?

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 62.4% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $5,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.2% higher at NSU than University of Southern Mississippi ($16,920.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Mississippi than NSU ($14,427 vs. $14,652)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 4.6% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,844 vs. $11,338)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi as Norfolk State University (91% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 30.9% larger than aid received University of Southern Mississippi ($12,164 vs. $9,296)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 241 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (17)
  • 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 (98.8%) than NSU (89.5%)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Southern Mississippi or NSU? 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 NSU and University of Southern Mississippi.

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Norfolk State University (47% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $5,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $36,700)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans 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/