Overview of the University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Miss, the University of Southern Mississippi, is a public institution situated in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to select from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. In athletics, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles play in the NCAA Division I Conference USA.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 14,509 (11,920 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 37% Male/63% Female
• 83% Full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $8,879 (in-state); $10,879 (out-of-state)
• Books: $1,500
• Room and Board: $10,937
• Other Expenses: $3,306
• Total Cost: $24,622 (in-state); $26,622 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 94%
• Percentage of Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 87%
  • Loans: 68%
• Mean Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $7,458
  • Loans: $8,599

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Elementary Education and Teaching; Business Administration and Management, General; Psychology, General; and Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 72%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 27%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 49%

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball

Overview of the University of Southern Mississippi Admissions

With an acceptance rate of 98%, admissions at Southern Miss is almost fully open. It has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants must complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

• University of Southern Mississippi Acceptance Rate: 98%
• Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 430/540
  • SAT Math: 510/650
  • SAT Writing: -/-
  • ACT Cumulative: 19/25
  • ACT English: 19/26
  • ACT Math: 17/24

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Southern Miss, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Southern Miss is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

California State University Northridge, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, California State University Fresno, California State University Bakersfield, California State University East Bay, Kean University, California State University Los Angeles

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Southern Miss, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Georgia State University, State University of New York at Fredonia, Montclair State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of California, Merced, La Salle University, Liberty University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Southern Miss. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Alabama, Quinnipiac University, Ohio University, University of North Texas, California State University Long Beach, Pace University, Florida Gulf Coast University

Applying to Southern Miss

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-admissions/index.php

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-admissions/index.php#apply

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/index.php     

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://www.usm.edu/graduate-admissions/index.php#apply