WKU vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Western Kentucky University 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.

Western Kentucky University
University of Southern Mississippi

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • WKU Small City
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WKU 16,291
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WKU #970
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WKU -
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • WKU Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WKU
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WKU $11,652
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WKU $27,000
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • WKU $12,582
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • WKU $12,548
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WKU $10,921
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WKU 99%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WKU 9,840
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • WKU 9,237
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WKU 93.9%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • WKU 30.2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WKU 950
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • WKU 18
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • WKU 3.42
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WKU B+
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • WKU
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • WKU 16/21
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • WKU 840/1050
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WKU Test optional
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WKU 19:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WKU 50%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WKU $37,100
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WKU 47%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WKU $24,250
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WKU $250
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WKU 38%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • WKU 62%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WKU Low
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • WKU No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • WKU 76%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • WKU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • WKU 10%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • WKU 3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • WKU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WKU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WKU 3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • WKU 6%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WKU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WKU 66%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WKU 33%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than University of Southern Mississippi based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 13,170 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Kentucky University 19:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

WKU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU 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 Western Kentucky University than University of Southern Mississippi ($12,548 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Mississippi are 5.3% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($11,920 vs. $12,582).
  • Western Kentucky University is 16.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Southern Mississippi (about $1,654 more per year; $11,652.00 vs. $9,998.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125% higher at WKU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $15,002 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at University of Southern Mississippi (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 0.2% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($10,921 vs. $10,900).

WKU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WKU 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 WKU.

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at WKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 840/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 16/21; University of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WKU - Test optional; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WKU (3.42).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than WKU (93.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.2% at WKU vs. 25% at University of Southern Mississippi.

WKU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WKU 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).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than University of Southern Mississippi's (47%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($24,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($250 vs. $258).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 47%)

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.