University of Southern Mississippi
- 4/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Hattiesburg, MS
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5.0 2 reviews
Overview
Total enrollment
13,170- Location Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Website usm.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Small City
- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
The University of Southern Mississippi's main campus spans 1,090 acres in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, located approximately 70 miles north of the Gulf Coast and 110 miles from New Orleans. Founded in 1910 as a teacher's college, USM has evolved into a comprehensive public research university operating additional campuses along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The university's pine tree-lined campus features a mix of historic Georgian-style architecture and modern facilities, with all freshman students required to live in on-campus residence halls. USM maintains particular academic strength in polymer science, marine science, education, and nursing programs, while also housing the nationally recognized School of Music. The Golden Eagles compete in NCAA Division I athletics as members of the Sun Belt Conference, with football and baseball serving as flagship sports programs.
Ratings
University of Southern Mississippi is rated within the lower 33% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10.
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Overall Rating4 out of 10
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Academics5 out of 10
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Resources3 out of 10
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Outcomes4 out of 10
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Value3 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of Southern Mississippi within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- ACT (enrolled mid-50) 19/26
- GPA 3.5
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due -
- Enrollment Rate 25%
- Application Fee $45
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
Mississippi Resident Tuition
$9,998Out of State Resident Tuition
$11,998Breakdown
- Tuition $9,998
- Books and Supplies $852
- Other Fees $110
- Room and Board $11,920
- Budget for Other Expenses $5,090
- Total One Year Cost $27,970
- Tuition $11,998
- Books and Supplies $852
- Other Fees $110
- Room and Board $11,920
- Budget for Other Expenses $5,090
- Total One Year Cost $29,970
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of Southern Mississippi are Business, Health Professions, and Education. 22% of students major in Business, 13% in Health Professions, and 13% in Education.
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Business 22%
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Health Professions 13%
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Education 13%
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Psychology 5%
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Communication 5%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of Southern Mississippi are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176372.
GPA calculator: University of Southern Mississippi GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026