ISU vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Idaho State University and University of Southern Mississippi? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Idaho State University
University of Southern Mississippi

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Pocatello, ID
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 13,061
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $8,610
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $27,720
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $7,882
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $12,174
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $9,217
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 91%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • ISU -
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU Open
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU Open
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Unavailable
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Open admission
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 14:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 26%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $42,300
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 47%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,950
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $237
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 41%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • % Women
  • ISU 59%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Medium
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • ISU 67%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 10%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 14%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 84%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 8%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • University of Southern Mississippi No

Comparable Facts

Compare Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than ISU based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 13,061 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Idaho State University is located in Pocatello, ID (Small City setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Idaho State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Idaho State University 14:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

ISU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or University of Southern Mississippi? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Idaho State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($12,174 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Idaho State University are 33.9% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($7,882 vs. $11,920).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $1,388 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $8,610.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 131% higher at ISU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $15,722 more per year; $27,720.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Idaho State University (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 18.3% larger than aid received by Idaho State University students ($10,900 vs. $9,217).

ISU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or University of Southern Mississippi? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Southern Mississippi and ISU.

  • Idaho State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Open admission; University of Southern Mississippi - Required.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at ISU (3.41).

ISU vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and University of Southern Mississippi? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Southern Mississippi's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Idaho State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Idaho State University earn a median of about $600 more per year than University of Southern Mississippi graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Idaho State University graduates have a $2,050 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($22,950 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($237 vs. $258).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.