About

About University of Southern Mississippi

open access admissionsdoctoral research universityhealth sciences focussouthern public universityeducation and business programs

University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university in Hattiesburg, MS, known for its open access admissions, doctoral research university, and health sciences focus. With an acceptance rate of 99%, USM is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 1,624 students each year. Admitted students typically score between 20–29 on the ACT. USM offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $10,681 per year; the sticker price of $27,280 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

University of Southern Mississippi acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

99%
Overall Accept Rate
3.50
Typical Admitted GPA
25
Median Admitted ACT
GPATypical admitted range: 3.25 – 3.75 unweighted

Build your free list to see where your GPA lands at University of Southern Mississippi →

ACTScore range: 20 – 29

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of Southern Mississippi

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Financial Aid — High Impact
Apply to Southern Miss before their priority scholarship deadline, as the university automatically considers admitted students for merit aid based on GPA and test scores without a separate application.
Test Score Strategy
Since Southern Miss requires test scores, make sure your ACT or SAT is sent directly from the testing agency before you submit your application, because missing official scores can delay your admission decision.

Get a tailored strategy for University of Southern Mississippi. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Southern Mississippi actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$27k/yr$19.9k
30k-48k~$27k/yr$20.4k
48k-75k~$27k/yr$22.8k
75k-110k~$27k/yr$25.8k
110k+~$27k/yr$26.5k

Not sure what University of Southern Mississippi would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for University of Southern Mississippi and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to University of Southern Mississippi's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

51%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$38k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
18:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
10,125
Undergrad Enrollment
University of Southern Mississippi Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch