University of Southern Mississippi

Public · Moderately Selective · MS

Photo: Woodlot (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMS · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads10,075

Student:faculty18:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate34.4%

6-yr grad rate49.1%

Drop-out rate27.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$12k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity43.8%

Gender diversity62.5%

International4.8%

Identity—

Overview

Southern Miss is a public research university in Hattiesburg that combines a traditional, spirited Southern campus experience with genuine research depth in a few specific niches, most notably polymer science. Founded originally as a teachers' college, it has grown into a full research university while keeping close ties to its education roots, giving it a distinctive research profile for a school of its admissions accessibility.

Academics

Its polymer science and engineering program is nationally recognized and draws students, faculty, and industry partnerships well beyond what the university's size would suggest, historically tied to the region's chemical and materials industry. Nursing, education, and marine science, supported by a dedicated Gulf Coast presence and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, round out its strongest offerings, with the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection giving its library and education programs a respected research archive of national note. Undergraduate research opportunities are genuinely available in these flagship areas, not just at the graduate level.

Campus & student life

Campus culture is traditional and spirit-heavy, with strong school pride, Greek life, and a marching band (the Pride of Mississippi) and Golden Eagles athletics culture typical of Southern public universities. The Gulf Coast campus in Long Beach gives marine- and coastal-science students a distinct, hands-on setting apart from the main Hattiesburg campus, while Hattiesburg itself offers a classic college-town backdrop for the bulk of undergraduates.

Getting in

Admissions is accessible rather than highly selective, making the university's research strengths, notably polymer science and marine science, attainable for a wide range of applicants rather than reserved for an elite pool. Merit scholarships are a meaningful part of how the university attracts strong students who might otherwise look at pricier or more selective options.

After graduation

Polymer science graduates move into materials, chemical, and manufacturing industries at a level disproportionate to the program's size, while education and nursing graduates tend to stay in Mississippi and the broader Gulf South region filling real workforce needs. Marine science and Gulf Coast Research Laboratory-affiliated students often continue into graduate research or environmental and fisheries careers along the coast.

Worth knowing

The polymer science program's reputation is disproportionate to the university's overall selectivity, making it a notable option for students specifically interested in materials science who want a lower-cost, less competitive entry point. The split between the main Hattiesburg campus and the smaller Gulf Coast campus is also worth understanding, since the two offer meaningfully different settings and program availability.

usm.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate99.1%

Enrolled mid-50%ACT 20–29

Test policyrequired

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying