University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi · Public · 99.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Southern Mississippi scores 27 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 24.8-year payback period, $33,500 average 6-year earnings, a 49.1% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 68.2%. Nearly 1 in 2 enrolled students does not graduate. In-state tuition of $9,998 and a net price of $21,708 produce an $86,832 four-year total cost, but the earnings outcomes undermine the case for even this modest price. Engineering Technologies leads at $76,114 year-one and Industrial Production Technologies at $75,493 year-one - both B-grade or B+-grade programs. Registered Nursing (168 graduates, $70,068 year-one, ROI grade B) is the highest-volume strong performer. The institution's broad academic catalog includes 40+ programs in the data, with outcomes ranging from the competitive (engineering, nursing) to deeply poor (Human Development with F-grade, debt-to-earnings 1.034; Social Work at 1.086; Parks and Recreation at 1.162). The nearly-open enrollment (99.1% admission rate) combined with 49.1% completion is the core institutional challenge. The Pell rate of 46.3% indicates the institution primarily serves lower-income Mississippi students.
How University of Southern Mississippi scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score27/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period24.8 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Southern Mississippi
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,998/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $11,998/yr |
| Average net price | $21,708/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,832 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,140 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 24.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,075 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,998/year ($11,998/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $21,708/year, or roughly $86,832 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $19,867/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,542/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,500) and comes to 0.67, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,867 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,432 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,756 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,812 |
| $110,001+ | $26,542 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $19,867 net price per year at USM - approximately $79,000 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $20,432. A 49.1% completion rate means that low-income students face greater-than-even odds of incurring debt without completing the credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,756 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,812. Aid decreases modestly across the middle-income range. At $22,000-$26,000 per year for a public institution with a 24.8-year payback period from the institutional median, middle-income families are paying a price that requires strong program selection to justify. Engineering and nursing programs deliver payback periods under 7-8 years at these net prices.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $26,542 per year - $106,000 all-in. At this price, USM's Below Benchmark designation is particularly acute: $33,500 average 6-year earnings and a 24.8-year payback period are not offset by moderate sticker cost. Full-pay Mississippi families with access to better-resourced institutions should consider the investment carefully.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Southern Mississippi with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $40,932 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $52,089 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $72,411 | B |
| Psychology | $37,925 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $44,963 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,909 | C |
| Biology | $45,471 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,936 | F |
| Social Work | $42,390 | F |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $89,904 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is USM's highest-volume strong-ROI program: 168 graduates, $70,068 year-one, $72,411 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.359 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,125 is modest. The four-year earnings plateau at $72,411 reflects the Mississippi RN pay scale. Hattiesburg's healthcare sector and proximity to the Gulf Coast healthcare market support nursing placement.
Engineering Technologies
Engineering Technologies has 56 graduates with $76,114 year-one and $82,848 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.328 (ROI grade B+). This is USM's strongest ROI program by debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates enter manufacturing, industrial, and infrastructure roles in the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Median debt of $25,000 produces one of the best debt-to-earnings ratios at the institution.
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
Industrial Production Technologies has 69 graduates with $75,493 year-one and $89,904 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.414 (ROI grade B). The four-year figure of $90k is the best in USM's data, reflecting the earnings growth in industrial and production management roles. This program taps into Mississippi and Gulf Coast manufacturing and shipbuilding sectors. Median debt of $31,250 keeps the grade at B; the four-year earnings trajectory is the strongest signal.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is the second-highest volume program with 212 graduates and year-one earnings of $38,766, four-year of $40,932. The flat trajectory between year one and year four, combined with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.626 (ROI grade C), reflects the Mississippi teacher salary scale. Median debt of $24,250 keeps the ratio in C territory. Teacher education at USM provides a regional labor force for Mississippi public schools - a legitimate social function - but the financial return is modest for students carrying debt at the institutional average.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Southern Mississippi’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.1% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-29 |
| Enrollment | 10,075 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,697 |
At 99.1%, USM is effectively open-enrollment. ACT mid-range of 20-29 covers a broad range; SAT data is not reported. The 99% admit rate means the institution accepts essentially everyone who applies, making the 49.1% completion rate the more meaningful metric. Students who enroll should have a clear understanding of which retention-support resources the institution provides.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi (this school) | 27 | $21,708 | $44,140 |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | 34 | $15,844 | $47,730 |
| Delta State University | 29 | $13,540 | $41,991 |
| Columbus State University | 24 | $13,115 | $44,544 |
| Troy University | 22 | $16,527 | $42,062 |
| Alcorn State University | 16 | $13,265 | $36,421 |
Who Thrives Here
University of Southern Mississippi admits 99.1% of applicants and enrolls 10,075 undergraduates in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. ACT composite mid-range is 20-29; SAT data is not reported. Students committed to specific career tracks - nursing, engineering technologies, industrial production - will find USM a cost-effective pathway with decent regional placement. Students in liberal arts, social sciences, or education face a poor ROI given the 49.1% completion rate and $33,500 average earnings.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Southern Mississippi scores 27/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $21,708 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,140 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 24.8 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 49.1% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of Southern Mississippi: Common Questions
Is University of Southern Mississippi worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Southern Mississippi scores 27/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $21,708 a year after aid against $44,140 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 24.8 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of Southern Mississippi cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,708 a year, or roughly $86,832 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Southern Mississippi graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,140 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,340 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Southern Mississippi?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 24.8 years for University of Southern Mississippi. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Southern Mississippi graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $33,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Mississippi?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.