University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU

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

University of Southern Mississippi WSSU
Location Hattiesburg, MS Winston-Salem, NC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,526 5,004
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #874 #956
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usm.edu wssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Southern Mississippi WSSU
Tuition (In State) $9,340 $3,401
Tuition (Out of State) $11,340 $14,057
Room & Board $11,338 $11,220
Avg Net Price $14,427 $14,097
Avg Grant Aid $9,296 $8,350
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 86%

Admission

University of Southern Mississippi WSSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,051 7,628
Admitted 8,946 5,598
Acceptance Rate 98.8% 73.4%
Enrolled % 18.2% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.01
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 14/19
SAT Range 830/1050
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

University of Southern Mississippi WSSU
% Men 35% 24%
% Women 65% 76%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 61% 16%
% Black 30% 72%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

University of Southern Mississippi WSSU
% In-State 70% 82%
% Out-of-State 27% 16%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Mississippi is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (13,526 students vs. 5,004 students)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Southern Mississippi is 174.6% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($9,340.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24% higher at WSSU than University of Southern Mississippi ($14,057.00 vs. $11,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($14,097 vs. $14,427)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 1.1% lower than costs at University of Southern Mississippi ($11,220 vs. $11,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than Winston Salem State University (91% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 11.3% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($9,296 vs. $8,350)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Mississippi (1049) is 179 points higher than at WSSU (870)
  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WSSU (18)
  • 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 (98.8%) than WSSU (73.4%)

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi is higher than Winston Salem State University (47% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn on average $6,000 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($41,700 vs. $35,700)
  • University of Southern Mississippi students graduate with a $663 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,663)
  • University of Southern Mississippi graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans 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/