University of Southern Mississippi

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location: Southeast
Setting: Large Town Setting
Type: Public
Size: Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot: Golden Eagles
Nickname: USM
From humble beginnings: The first five buildings erected on the University's Hattiesburg campus.
From humble beginnings: The first five buildings erected on the University's Hattiesburg campus.
[source]
University of Southern Mississippi From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM, but frequently referred to as Southern Miss) is a four-year public university located primarily in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Established on March 30, 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi was originally known as Mississippi Normal College, a college for training teachers. Southern Miss has multiple teaching sites that include the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, MS, Stennis Space Center, Jackson County, Keesler Air Force Base, J.L.Scott Aquarium, Gulf Coast Research Lab, and Pontlevoy, France. The university, through its Center for International Education, operates a number of international programs, and is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the nation for the number of students studying abroad each year. It is particularly noted for its flagship British Studies program, which regularly sends over 200 students each summer to live and study in the heart of London.

The university is home to a major polymer science research center, a nationally recognized writer's center and one of the strongest music programs in the southeastern United States. The Southern Miss Wind Ensemble is considered to be among the nation's best, as is The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which has performed with such world-renowned figures as singer Ray Charles, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, violinist Joshua Bell, flutist James Galway, trumpet player Doc Severinsen, and tenor Plácido Domingo. In the past few years, the Southern Chorale, the university's top choir, has come into national and international prominence with invitational performances at the National American Choral Director's Association Conference in Los Angeles, Carnegie Hall, and abroad. In 1977 when Jimmy Carter was sworn in as 39th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the Southern Miss Pride of Mississippi Marching Band was invited by him to be present and performed at his ceremony.

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Students & Campus Life
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,371
On Campus Housing: Available
Full Time Students: 98%
Athletic Programs: Available
> More Students & Campus Life
Expenses
Average Tuition: $ 9,742
Students Receiving Aid: 89%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid
Admissions
Selectivity: Highly Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 98%
Part-Time 2%
Men vs. Women
Women 63%
Men 37%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 70%
African-American 25%
Other 3%
Hispanic 1%
Asian 1%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 77%
Out-of-State 23%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Mississippi 77%
Louisiana 9%
Alabama 6%
Florida 1%
Tennessee 1%
Percent of Students International: 2%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 26%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Conference USA)
Basketball (Conference USA)
Baseball (Conference USA)
Track (Conference USA)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 4,312 $ 9,742  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,230 43%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 727 36%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 3,224 35%  
Student Loans:
$ 3,845 60%  
Any Aid:
  89%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 37% (Highly Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 10%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 460, Math: 470
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 590, Math: 570
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 90%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 18, Verbal: 19, Math: 16
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 23, Verbal: 25, Math: 22

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Recommended
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at University of Southern Mississippi

Bachelor's Level Majors

Photos

  • From humble beginnings: The first five buildings erected on the University's Hattiesburg campus.
    From humble beginnings: The first five buildings erected on the University's Hattiesburg campus. [source]
  • The University of Southern Mississippi Seal
    The University of Southern Mississippi Seal [source]