University of Southern Mississippi
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Why University of Southern Mississippi Matters
University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university in Hattiesburg, MS ranked #601-800 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 10,075
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology
Why students choose University of Southern Mississippi
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 99% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,708 a year after grants and scholarships — 27% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,140 ten years after enrolling — 8% above the typical college, against $22,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 24% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.23 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 99%, the University of Southern Mississippi welcomes a diverse range of students. This school is a solid choice for those interested in fields like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and Humanities. The community here is supportive, making it an ideal environment for students who may need a little extra encouragement to thrive.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $44,140 on average within ten years, which is a decent return on investment for many. The affordability factor is significant, especially with nearly half of the students receiving Pell Grants. This financial support can help ease the burden for those who may be concerned about the cost of education, given that the net price after aid stands at $21,708.
When we look at the numbers, the median debt for graduates is $22,500—manageable compared to many other institutions. Students who tend to excel here often appreciate the supportive atmosphere and practical programs that align with their career goals. Those who are proactive about their education and take advantage of available resources are likely to find success in their chosen paths.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Southern Mississippi is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Southern Mississippi? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 99% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,190. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Southern Mississippi? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Southern Mississippi, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $11,998 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,708 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,867 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Southern Mississippi Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Southern Mississippi report median earnings of $44,140; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Southern Mississippi Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Southern Mississippi delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,708/year ($86,832 total). Graduates earn $44,140 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,066,915 in total earnings — a net gain of $980,083 (12.3× your investment). The median debt is $22,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Southern Mississippi Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Southern Mississippi is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Southern Mississippi produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 15 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 12/100 research score.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Southern Mississippi awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Southern Mississippi's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Southern Mississippi? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 99% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,190. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Southern Mississippi? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Southern Mississippi, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $11,998 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,708 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,867 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,500.
Is University of Southern Mississippi Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of Southern Mississippi report median earnings of $44,140; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does University of Southern Mississippi Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of Southern Mississippi is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Southern Mississippi? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Southern Mississippi, with an economic connectedness score of 1.23 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Southern Mississippi? World Rank, Teaching & Citations +
On the global stage, Times Higher Education places University of Southern Mississippi at #601-800 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 12/100, teaching at 21/100, and citation impact of 20/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Southern Mississippi.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Southern Mississippi? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Southern Mississippi, with an economic connectedness score of 1.23 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note