University of Southern Mississippi vs. WVSU

Deciding between University of Southern Mississippi and West Virginia State University? 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.

University of Southern Mississippi
West Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%
  • WVSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • WVSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • WVSU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • WVSU $32,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • WVSU 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • WVSU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258
  • WVSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • WVSU 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%
  • WVSU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS with West Virginia State University in Institute, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting); West Virginia State University is in Institute, WV (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern Mississippi 18:1; West Virginia State University 13:1.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University than University of Southern Mississippi ($11,055 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Mississippi are 11.8% lower than at West Virginia State University ($11,920 vs. $13,522).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVSU (about $428 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $9,570.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.9% higher at WVSU than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $2,992 more per year; $14,990.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at West Virginia State University (95% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students is 21.2% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($10,900 vs. $8,993).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Southern Mississippi or WVSU? 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 WVSU and University of Southern Mississippi.

  • Incoming University of Southern Mississippi students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at WVSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWest Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern Mississippi 19/26; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Southern Mississippi - Required; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at WVSU (3.24).
  • University of Southern Mississippi has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than WVSU (96%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25% at University of Southern Mississippi vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Southern Mississippi and WVSU? 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 West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($240 vs. $258).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 35%)

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.