University of Southern Mississippi vs. Western New Mexico University

Deciding between University of Southern Mississippi and Western New Mexico 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
  • Western New Mexico University Silver City, NM
  • Setting
  • University of Southern Mississippi Small City
  • Western New Mexico University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Southern Mississippi 13,170
  • Western New Mexico University 3,531
  • Type
  • University of Southern Mississippi Public 4 Year
  • Western New Mexico University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Southern Mississippi #901
  • Western New Mexico University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Southern Mississippi -
  • Western New Mexico University -
  • Status
  • University of Southern Mississippi Non-profit
  • Western New Mexico University Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Southern Mississippi usm.edu
  • Western New Mexico University wnmu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Western New Mexico University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $9,998
  • Western New Mexico University $7,856
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,998
  • Western New Mexico University $14,342
  • Room & Board
  • University of Southern Mississippi $11,920
  • Western New Mexico University $10,940
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Southern Mississippi $15,095
  • Western New Mexico University $9,477
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi $10,900
  • Western New Mexico University $12,666
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Southern Mississippi 95%
  • Western New Mexico University 84%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Southern Mississippi Calculate
  • Western New Mexico University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Southern Mississippi 7,048
  • Western New Mexico University -
  • Admitted
  • University of Southern Mississippi 6,986
  • Western New Mexico University -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 99.1%
  • Western New Mexico University Open
  • Enrolled
  • University of Southern Mississippi 25%
  • Western New Mexico University Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Western New Mexico University
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Southern Mississippi 22
  • Western New Mexico University
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3.5
  • Western New Mexico University 2.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Southern Mississippi A-
  • Western New Mexico University B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Southern Mississippi Moderate
  • Western New Mexico University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Western New Mexico University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi 19/26
  • Western New Mexico University
  • SAT Range
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Western New Mexico University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Southern Mississippi Required
  • Western New Mexico University Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • Western New Mexico University Aug 12, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Southern Mississippi 18:1
  • Western New Mexico University 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Southern Mississippi
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Western New Mexico University
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Southern Mississippi 47%
  • Western New Mexico University 13%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Southern Mississippi $41,700
  • Western New Mexico University $35,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Southern Mississippi 54%
  • Western New Mexico University 34%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Southern Mississippi $25,000
  • Western New Mexico University $20,686
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Southern Mississippi $258
  • Western New Mexico University $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Southern Mississippi 37%
  • Western New Mexico University 32%
  • % Women
  • University of Southern Mississippi 63%
  • Western New Mexico University 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medium
  • Western New Mexico University High
  • HBCU
  • University of Southern Mississippi No
  • Western New Mexico University No
  • % White
  • University of Southern Mississippi 61%
  • Western New Mexico University 29%
  • % Asian
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Western New Mexico University 2%
  • % Black
  • University of Southern Mississippi 30%
  • Western New Mexico University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Southern Mississippi 3%
  • Western New Mexico University 51%
  • % Native American
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • Western New Mexico University 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Southern Mississippi 0%
  • Western New Mexico University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Southern Mississippi 2%
  • Western New Mexico University 1%
  • % International
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Western New Mexico University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Southern Mississippi 1%
  • Western New Mexico University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 66%
  • Western New Mexico University 76%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Southern Mississippi 23%
  • Western New Mexico University 20%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS with Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern Mississippi is larger than Western New Mexico University based on total student enrollment (13,170 students vs. 3,531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS (Small City setting); Western New Mexico University is in Silver City, NM (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western New Mexico University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern Mississippi 18:1; Western New Mexico University 12:1.

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Western New Mexico University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Mississippi or Western New Mexico University? 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 Western New Mexico University than University of Southern Mississippi ($9,477 vs. $15,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western New Mexico University are 8.2% lower than at University of Southern Mississippi ($10,940 vs. $11,920).
  • University of Southern Mississippi is 27.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western New Mexico University (about $2,130 more per year; $9,998.00 vs. $7,868.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at Western New Mexico University than at University of Southern Mississippi (about $2,344 more per year; $14,342.00 vs. $11,998.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern Mississippi than at Western New Mexico University (95% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western New Mexico University students is 16.2% larger than aid received by University of Southern Mississippi students ($12,666 vs. $10,900).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Western New Mexico University Admissions comparison

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

  • Western New Mexico University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern Mississippi 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Southern Mississippi - Required; Western New Mexico University - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Western New Mexico University Aug 12, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Mississippi students have a 1 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Western New Mexico University (2.5).

University of Southern Mississippi vs. Western New Mexico University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Southern Mississippi and Western New Mexico University? 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 Western New Mexico University's (13%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern Mississippi earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Western New Mexico University graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western New Mexico University graduates have a $4,314 lower median loan debt than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($20,686 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Western New Mexico University graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Southern Mississippi graduates ($213 vs. $258).
  • More University of Southern Mississippi graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western New Mexico University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 34%)

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.