University of West Alabama vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between University of West Alabama and University of Southern Mississippi? 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 West Alabama Livingston, AL
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • University of West Alabama Remote Rural
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of West Alabama 6,820
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • University of West Alabama Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of West Alabama #992
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of West Alabama -
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • University of West Alabama Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of West Alabama uwa.edu
  • University of Southern Mississippi usm.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of West Alabama
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of West Alabama $10,990
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of West Alabama $20,090
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • University of West Alabama $8,230
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • University of West Alabama $13,954
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of West Alabama $9,037
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of West Alabama 93%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of West Alabama Calculate
  • University of Southern Mississippi Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of West Alabama 2,729
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • University of West Alabama 1,164
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of West Alabama 42.7%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • University of West Alabama 33.4%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of West Alabama 990
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of West Alabama 18
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of West Alabama 3.16
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of West Alabama B+
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of West Alabama Extremely Easy
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of West Alabama Low
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • University of West Alabama 16/21
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of West Alabama 860/1120
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of West Alabama Test optional
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • University of West Alabama Aug 10, 2027
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of West Alabama 19:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of West Alabama
    • Education (27%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (14%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of West Alabama 28%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of West Alabama $38,500
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of West Alabama 36%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of West Alabama $26,489
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of West Alabama $273
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of West Alabama 26%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • University of West Alabama 74%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of West Alabama High
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of West Alabama No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • University of West Alabama 45%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • University of West Alabama 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • University of West Alabama 40%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of West Alabama 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • University of West Alabama 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of West Alabama 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of West Alabama 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • University of West Alabama 6%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of West Alabama 4%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of West Alabama 82%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of West Alabama 13%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of West Alabama in Livingston, AL with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than University of West Alabama based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 6,820 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of West Alabama is located in Livingston, AL (Remote Rural setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • University of West Alabama is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of West Alabama 19:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

University of West Alabama vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or University of Southern Mississippi? 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 University of West Alabama than University of Southern Mississippi ($13,954 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 31% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($8,230 vs. $11,920).
  • University of West Alabama is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $992 more per year; $10,990.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.4% higher at University of West Alabama than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $8,092 more per year; $20,090.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at University of West Alabama (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 20.6% larger than aid received by University of West Alabama students ($10,900 vs. $9,037).

University of West Alabama vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

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

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at University of West Alabama).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of West Alabama 860/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of West Alabama 16/21; University of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of West Alabama - Test optional; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of West Alabama Aug 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at University of West Alabama (3.16).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than University of West Alabama (42.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at University of West Alabama vs. 25% at University of Southern Mississippi.

University of West Alabama vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of West Alabama and University of Southern Mississippi? 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 University of West Alabama's (28%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than University of West Alabama graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have a $1,489 lower median loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,489).
  • Among borrowers, University of Southern Mississippi graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of West Alabama graduates ($258 vs. $273).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Alabama students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 36%)

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.