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AlmaSpire

Hattiesburg, MS · Public · 10,075 undergraduates · urban

University of Southern Mississippi

Less selective

Southern Miss spans inland and Gulf Coast settings, with specialized strength in polymers and ocean engineering.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Regionally focused Solid in mobility, and steady in affordability.
Academic Emerging Affordability Steady Career Emerging Mobility Solid Experience Steady
Academic standing Emerging
Affordability Steady
Career outcomes Emerging
Mobility Solid
Student experience Steady
Admission
99.4% admitted

8,818 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Resident and nonresident prices differ

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
52.8%

$44,140 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets University of Southern Mississippi apart

Academic design

Polymer science and engineering is based in Hattiesburg; ocean engineering moves upper-level students to Gulf Park.

Campus pattern

Students may study in Hattiesburg or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, depending on program.

Career & value signal

Marine, polymer, shipbuilding, federal-laboratory, and coastal employers align closely with specialized programs.

Can I get in?

99.4% admitted

Ocean engineering students complete junior and senior study at the Gulf Park campus.

Recent applicant pool

8,818

About 99 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 99.4%
Entering class

Academic range

ACT middle 50%19–27
1432

Of admitted students, 0% submitted an SAT, and 98% submitted an ACT. Treat the SAT range as a guide to the students who submitted that test, not to everyone admitted.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA20%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for University of Southern Mississippi, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What University of Southern Mississippi weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Polymer science and engineering is based in Hattiesburg; ocean engineering moves upper-level students to Gulf Park.

02

Make institutional fit specific

Southern Miss spans inland and Gulf Coast settings, with specialized strength in polymers and ocean engineering.

03

Use the application route carefully

Ocean engineering students complete junior and senior study at the Gulf Park campus.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Ocean engineering students complete junior and senior study at the Gulf Park campus.

Regular Decisionrolling
Fee and waiver$45 application fee

Fee waiver: accepted

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$29,620
Average annual cost after aid, in-state$22,000
Affordability profileSteady

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at University of Southern Mississippi

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.

Complete within 8 years52.8%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one71.3%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$44,140

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Recent graduates206
Median earnings$52,089

Admits separately

Psychology, General

Recent graduates167
Median earnings$37,925

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Recent graduates144
Median earnings$44,963

What is campus life like?

University of Southern Mississippi beyond the classroom

Students may study in Hattiesburg or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, depending on program.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Polymer science and engineering is based in Hattiesburg; ocean engineering moves upper-level students to Gulf Park.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

Students may study in Hattiesburg or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, depending on program.

Career & value

Where the degree can lead

Marine, polymer, shipbuilding, federal-laboratory, and coastal employers align closely with specialized programs.

10,075 undergraduatesSoutheasturban settingCampus housing available