Southeastern vs. University of Southern Mississippi

Deciding between Southeastern Louisiana 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Southern Mississippi

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southeastern Hammond, LA
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Setting
  • Southeastern Distant Town
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Southeastern 14,426
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Type
  • Southeastern Public 4 Year
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southeastern #981
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southeastern -
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Status
  • Southeastern Non-profit
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southeastern
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southeastern $8,373
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southeastern $20,851
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Room & Board
  • Southeastern $10,240
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Average Net Price
  • Southeastern $13,116
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southeastern $10,253
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southeastern 97%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Southeastern 6,255
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Admitted
  • Southeastern 6,212
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southeastern 99.3%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Southeastern 38.8%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southeastern
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southeastern 21
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southeastern 3.39
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southeastern B+
  • University of Southern Mississippi B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southeastern Very Easy
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southeastern
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • ACT Range
  • Southeastern 19/24
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Southeastern
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Southeastern Aug 1, 2027
  • University of Southern Mississippi

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southeastern 20:1
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southeastern
    • Business (27%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southeastern 33%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southeastern $41,100
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southeastern 52%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southeastern $21,272
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southeastern $219
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southeastern 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 8%
  • % Women
  • Southeastern 7%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 15%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southeastern Medium
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • HBCU
  • Southeastern No
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • % White
  • Southeastern 64%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • % Asian
  • Southeastern 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Black
  • Southeastern 18%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southeastern 8%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • % Native American
  • Southeastern 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southeastern 0%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southeastern 7%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • % International
  • Southeastern 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southeastern 1%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southeastern 96%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southeastern 2%
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA with University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southeastern Louisiana University is larger than University of Southern Mississippi based on total student enrollment (14,426 students vs. 13,170 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southeastern Louisiana University is located in Hammond, LA (Distant Town setting); University of Southern Mississippi is in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting).
  • Southeastern Louisiana 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: Southeastern Louisiana University 20:1; University of Southern Mississippi 18:1.

Southeastern vs. University of Southern Mississippi Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southeastern 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 Southeastern Louisiana University than University of Southern Mississippi ($13,116 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southeastern Louisiana University are 14.1% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,240 vs. $11,920).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeastern (about $1,625 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $8,373.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.8% higher at Southeastern than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $8,853 more per year; $20,851.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeastern Louisiana University than at University of Southern Mississippi (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Southeastern Louisiana University students ($10,900 vs. $10,253).

Southeastern vs. University of Southern Mississippi Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southeastern 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 Southeastern.

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Southeastern).
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southeastern Louisiana University 19/24; University of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); University of Southern Mississippi - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southeastern Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Southeastern (3.39).
  • Southeastern has a higher acceptance rate (99.3%) than University of Southern Mississippi (99.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Southeastern vs. 25% at University of Southern Mississippi.

Southeastern vs. University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southeastern 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 Southeastern Louisiana University's (33%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $600 more per year than Southeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southeastern Louisiana University graduates have a $3,728 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($21,272 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Southeastern graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($219 vs. $258).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southeastern students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 52%)

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.