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University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs Western Kentucky University (WKU)

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Western Kentucky University (WKU) are two excellent options with distinct characteristics. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, offers a vibrant campus life and a wide range of academic programs, while WKU, situated in Bowling Green, Kentucky, boasts a strong focus on research and a diverse student body. With acceptance rates of 84% and 86%, respectively, both universities welcome a substantial number of applicants. While USM excels in fields like nursing, business, and education, WKU shines in areas such as engineering, computer science, and health professions. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

 		Western Kentucky University logo

Western Kentucky University

Overview

Location Hattiesburg, Mississippi Bowling Green, Kentucky
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% 73.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 95.8% 98.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40
Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $45
Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range 19 - 26 N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score 99.0%
Total number of applicants 9,314 7,255
Total number of admissions given out 8,922 7,145
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,587 2,832
Yield rate 17.8% 39.6%
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: $27,895
Out of state: $43,903
Average net price $13,651 $12,395
Tuition
In state: $9,094
Out of state: $11,094
In state: $10,992
Out of state: $27,000
Room & board $10,950
Room/dormitory: $6,744
Meal plan: $3,964
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

 91.0%
Average amount $9,072 		98.0%
Average amount $9,576
Students receiving federal student loan 54.0%
Average amount $5,327 		47.0%
Average amount $5,128
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $12,298 		5.0%
Average amount $9,983

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students 10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7% 		14,729
Men 37.8% Women 62.2%
Graduate students 3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3% 		2,021
Men 34.1% Women 65.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 25.7% N/A
International students 2.8% 1.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,592 4,942
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 Tennessee Indiana Illinois Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
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% 53.6%
Dropout rate 46.0% 22.1%
Transferred out N/A 22.9%
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,015
  • Year 2: $86,696
  • Year 3: $95,431
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,960
  • Year 2: $76,998
  • Year 3: $77,293
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,199
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $77,197
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,704
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $68,358
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,193
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $66,850
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,992
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $65,815
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,607
  • Year 2: $61,144
  • Year 3: $65,553
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,759
  • Year 2: $51,551
  • Year 3: $57,443
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,729
  • Year 2: $52,897
  • Year 3: $56,104
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,172
  • Year 2: $56,281
  • Year 3: $55,609

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