University of Southern Mississippi

Overview of University of Southern Mississippi (USM)

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USM students enroll for more than cerebral stimulation, however. The Hattiesburg campus provides loads of resources that help foster a well-rounded educational experience for all. After class, USM students can use campus resources to arrange adventures that take them off-campus or to new corners of the USM grounds. They also find ample resources for working out, playing sports, or learning to optimize their diet for best health. There are intramural leagues for students who like fun, friendly competition, but there are also club sports that are more accessible than varsity teams but bring the game to other campuses throughout the region. Students also appreciate the modern comfort of the on-campus residency halls. These include study lounges and there are even free tutors available to help bring that B+ up to an A.

Top Rankings For University of Southern Mississippi

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USM Acceptance Rate and Admissions

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USM Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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Southern Mississippi University in Hattiesburg is a publicly funded postsecondary institution that helps state residents achieve a college degree at the lowest possible cost. Mississippi state residents are the chief beneficiary of this terrific value, but out-of-state students aren't gouged by any means. In fact, state residents face a total gross academic cost of around $11,000 for a year's worth of tuition, books, and other supplies. And out-of-state students only pay around $13,000 for the same.

Naturally, it's not free to be a student and once all living costs are tallied, in-state USM students see their gross costs rise to $26,000 for either off, or on-campus living. Out-of-state students pay nearly the same with their total gross payout totaling around $28,000. However, these figures don't factor in the financial aid available to USM students.

Once the financial aid office works its magic with applicable grants and scholarships, the net price tag falls precipitously. They are able to cut the gross costs nearly in half. The average net price for a year of studying and living at USM is only $14,000. This figure falls to under $13,000 for the lowest-income households and barely rises above $18,000 for households that earn over $110,000 per year.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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Students seek out a diploma from Southern Mississippi University for many reasons. Some enroll to continue a family legacy and others are interested in the athletics. However, the most important part of being an USM student is the academics. While USM does enjoy a terrific reputation for academic excellence, our researchers investigated to get the facts. They pulled academic statistics on USM's retention rate and graduation rate, among other metrics, to affirm its reputation.

Southern Mississippi University's retention rate is a measure of how many first-time, full-time students return to campus for their second year. The school reports a strong retention rate of 70%. Students and their families are thus deemed to be happy with the faculty, curriculum, and campus resources they find in Hattiesburg.

Students are so pleased that they stick around to graduate. USM reports a graduation rate of 52%. Unfortunately, USM does not report how many students opt to transfer to other universities, such as the University of Mississippi in Oxford. USM also holds current regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. They have held these credentials since 1929. Thus, USM is clearly a solid choice for any aspiring college student who demands top-notch academics in a fun, supportive environment.

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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USM students have high aspirations of succeeding and becoming the top in their field. While no academic institution can guarantee any job or salary outcomes, our researchers did discover data from former graduates that may give current students an idea of what they might expect from their USM education.

When surveyed, respondents reported their earnings to researchers. The top earning graduates from USM turned out to be the registered nursing students, who earn a reported median salary of $57,000. The fifth highest earning graduates were from the marketing department, who reported median earnings of $44,000 to start. It's worth noting that these median salaries are not averages and that they don't reflect other forms of compensation, such as bonuses or benefits. Furthermore, most of these students are likely living and working in Mississippi, which is known to have a lower cost of living relative to other parts of the country.

Photos & Videos

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