University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs V-State

Envision yourself as a student, embarking on a journey of higher education. As you navigate the vast landscape of universities, two prominent institutions emerge: the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Valdosta State University (VSU). While both offer exceptional academic opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. USM, nestled in the heart of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. VSU, located in the vibrant city of Valdosta, Georgia, stands out with its strong focus on undergraduate education and a higher graduation rate. Dive into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover further insights into these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation outcomes. Discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting the stage for a transformative educational experience.
University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

Valdosta State University logo

Valdosta State University

Overview

Location Hattiesburg, Mississippi Valdosta, Georgia
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 70.0% 56.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 95.8% 76.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $45
SAT range N/A 940 - 1140
ACT range 19 - 26 17 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 99.0% 12.0%
Total number of applicants 9,314 8,650
Total number of admissions given out 8,922 6,606
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,587 1,782
Yield rate 17.8% 27.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,100

Out of state: $27,100
In state: $22,695

Out of state: $33,750
Average net price $13,651 $12,856
Tuition
In state: $9,094

Out of state: $11,094
In state: $4,371

Out of state: $15,426
Room & board $10,950
Room/dormitory: $4,566

Meal plan: $4,204
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $9,072
89.0%
Average amount $9,221
Students receiving federal student loan 54.0%
Average amount $5,327
57.0%
Average amount $5,454
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $12,298
4.0%
Average amount $8,546

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
8,760
Men 33.0% Women 67.0%
Graduate students 3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
2,797
Men 24.7% Women 75.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 25.7% 19.1%
International students 2.8% 1.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,592 2,857
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee Georgia Florida Alabama South Carolina Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Library Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 51.8% 41.0%
Dropout rate 46.0% 14.9%
Transferred out N/A 41.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $64,245
  • Year 3: $69,158
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,210
  • Year 2: $58,898
  • Year 3: $64,095
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,814
  • Year 3: $61,964
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,858
  • Year 3: $61,823
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,309
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $58,113
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,101
  • Year 2: $52,524
  • Year 3: $54,080
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,464
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $52,422
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,958
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $52,230
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,173
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $51,849
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,788
  • Year 2: $48,363
  • Year 3: $51,433

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