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#5 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi Admission Requirements

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 2 Reviews

Your chances of getting into University of Southern Mississippi

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

98.8%
Admission Difficulty for University of Southern Mississippi
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Moderate 
Applicant Competition Very Low 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at University of Southern Mississippi is 98.8%.  Its admission rate is the 15th lowest in Mississippi.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into University of Southern Mississippi and can you get accepted?

University of Southern Mississippi is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 8,946 out of the 9,051 who applied were admitted.

University of Southern Mississippi typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.5. 18% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into University of Southern Mississippi?

99% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Calculate your admission chances
Calculate your admission chances

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to University of Southern Mississippi you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.5 or better
  • Earn B+ grades in high school
  • Score 22 on the ACT

University of Southern Mississippi GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.5

Typical High School Grades 

B+

What GPA do you need to get into University of Southern Mississippi?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into University of Southern Mississippi are to have around a 3.5 high school GPA. You are required to have very good grades in high school.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.5 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as University of Southern Mississippi accepts 99% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at University of Southern Mississippi is 3.5 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #7 in Mississippi for highest average GPA.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

High School GPA's for admitted University of Southern Mississippi students
High School GPA Freshmen Within Range Competitiveness 
4.0 16.87% Good
3.75 to 3.99 21.23% Avg +
3.50 to 3.74 20.5% Avg -
3.25 to 3.49 14.22% Avg -
3.00 to 3.24 13.82% Reach
2.50 to 2.99 10.45% Reach
2.00 to 2.49 2.91% Low
1.00 to 1.99 0% Low
less than 1.00 0% Low

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

Calculate My Chances 

University of Southern Mississippi SAT Scores

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

Not Reported

Applicants Submitting SAT 

-
SAT Scores for University of Southern Mississippi
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile N/A
Math 25th Percentile N/A
Composite 25th Percentile N/A
SAT Scores for University of Southern Mississippi
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile N/A
Math 75th Percentile N/A
Composite 75th Percentile N/A
Average SAT Score N/A
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

University of Southern Mississippi ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

19-26 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

100%
ACT Scores for University of Southern Mississippi
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 19
Math 25th Percentile 17
Composite 25th Percentile 19
ACT Scores for University of Southern Mississippi
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 28
Math 75th Percentile 25
Composite 75th Percentile 26
Average ACT Score 22

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into University of Southern Mississippi?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to University of Southern Mississippi is 22, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 19 and 26.  The school ranks #7 in Mississippi for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 22. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 19 and score in the score in the top 56 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 16.

Scoring well on the ACT is very important as 100 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of Southern Mississippi.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into University of Southern Mississippi for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 22 score has around 99% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 99% with a 26 ACT score.

University of Southern Mississippi admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
26 and Above Good >99%
22 to 26 Avg + 99%-99%
19 to 22 Avg - 98%-99%
16 to 19 Reach 97%-98%
Less than 16 Low <97%
Calculate My Chances 

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

University of Southern Mississippi admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 6,043 3,008 9,051
Accepted 5,992 2,954 8,946
Acceptance Rate 99% 98% 99%
Enrolled 1,079 545 1,624
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 18% 18% 18%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to University of Southern Mississippi is $45.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to University of Southern Mississippi and what student information is used for admission decisions?

University of Southern Mississippi Application Requirements
Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Recommendations Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at University of Southern Mississippi
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to University of Southern Mississippi often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=176372 IPEDS survey data for University of Southern Mississippi.

Last updated February 24, 2024