University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs University of North Carolina at Asheville

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) offer distinct experiences for prospective students. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, while UNCA, nestled in Asheville, North Carolina, offers a more selective admissions process and a smaller, close-knit community. Both universities excel in different academic areas, with USM excelling in nursing, business, and education, and UNCA excelling in environmental studies, music, and psychology. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of North Carolina at Asheville logo

University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

Overview

Location Asheville, North Carolina Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 70.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 81.6% 95.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1130 - 1330 N/A
ACT range 22 - 29 19 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 17.0%
Students submitting ACT score 33.0% 99.0%
Total number of applicants 4,550 9,314
Total number of admissions given out 3,714 8,922
Admitted students who chose to enroll 605 1,587
Yield rate 16.3% 17.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,331

Out of state: $39,679
In state: $25,100

Out of state: $27,100
Average net price $13,838 $13,651
Tuition
In state: $4,122

Out of state: $21,470
In state: $9,094

Out of state: $11,094
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,778

Meal plan: $4,470
$10,950
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

90.0%
Average amount $7,610
91.0%
Average amount $9,072
Students receiving federal student loan 50.0%
Average amount $5,008
54.0%
Average amount $5,327
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $10,387
4.0%
Average amount $12,298

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,233
Men 42.5% Women 57.5%
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
Graduate students N/A 3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 15.8% 25.7%
International students 1.1% 2.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,575 3,592
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from North Carolina Florida South Carolina Virginia Georgia Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • English Language and Literature
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 64.6% 51.8%
Dropout rate 9.5% 46.0%
Transferred out 25.1% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,950
  • Year 2: $58,885
  • Year 3: $63,274
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,943
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $46,511
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,020
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $43,063
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,424
  • Year 2: $32,711
  • Year 3: $38,410
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,029
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $35,109
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,487
  • Year 2: $25,596
  • Year 3: $34,805
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,198
  • Year 2: $28,816
  • Year 3: $32,166
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,208
  • Year 2: $24,164
  • Year 3: $31,326
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,657
  • Year 2: $31,447
  • Year 3: $30,850
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,443
  • Year 2: $25,774
  • Year 3: $29,244
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $157,573
  • Year 2: $156,846
  • Year 3: $164,002
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $95,073
  • Year 3: $99,130
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $71,295
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $67,024
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,957
  • Year 2: $56,254
  • Year 3: $57,464
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,555
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $56,239
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,332
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $52,453
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,129
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $50,674
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,726
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $49,610
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,917
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $48,921

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