University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs Kent State

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Kent, Ohio, home to the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Kent State University at Kent (KSU), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique identities. USM boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. KSU, on the other hand, attracts a slightly more selective pool of applicants. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into the nuances that set these institutions apart, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more. Discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, embarking on a transformative journey toward your educational goals.
Kent State University at Kent logo

Kent State University at Kent

University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

Overview

Location Kent, Ohio Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Campus setting Suburb: Large 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 81.0% 70.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.3% 95.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1000 - 1210 N/A
ACT range 19 - 25 19 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 66.0% 99.0%
Total number of applicants 19,881 9,314
Total number of admissions given out 17,359 8,922
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,050 1,587
Yield rate 23.3% 17.8%
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) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,954

Out of state: $36,830
In state: $25,100

Out of state: $27,100
Average net price $18,947 $13,651
Tuition
In state: $11,774

Out of state: $20,650
In state: $9,094

Out of state: $11,094
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,417

Meal plan: $5,666
$10,950
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $8,401
91.0%
Average amount $9,072
Students receiving federal student loan 56.0%
Average amount $5,405
54.0%
Average amount $5,327
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $13,210
4.0%
Average amount $12,298

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,133
Men 37.7% Women 62.3%
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
Graduate students 5,464
Men 33.3% Women 66.7%
3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 19.7% 25.7%
International students 5.2% 2.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 5,674 3,592
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Ohio Pennsylvania New York Illinois Michigan Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.7% 51.8%
Dropout rate 9.4% 46.0%
Transferred out 21.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,715
  • Year 2: $89,685
  • Year 3: $100,554
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,015
  • Year 2: $72,734
  • Year 3: $77,710
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,597
  • Year 2: $73,635
  • Year 3: $77,296
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,552
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $75,264
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,262
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $66,878
Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,914
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $65,790
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,436
  • Year 2: $57,619
  • Year 3: $65,215
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,674
  • Year 2: $53,108
  • Year 3: $65,118
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,124
  • Year 2: $49,019
  • Year 3: $63,596
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,648
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $63,476
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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