University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU

Deciding between University of Southern Mississippi and Winston Salem 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
Winston Salem State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than WSSU based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 4,782 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($12,989 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 3.7% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($11,484 vs. $11,920).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 63.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $3,872 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.9% higher at WSSU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $4,784 more per year; $16,782.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Winston Salem State University (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($10,900 vs. $10,057).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

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

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at WSSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWinston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern Mississippi 19/26; Winston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Southern Mississippi - Required; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than WSSU (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25% at University of Southern Mississippi vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Southern Mississippi and WSSU? 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 Winston Salem State University's (41%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have a $663 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($258 vs. $265).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU 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.