University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE)
When it comes to higher education, University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) stand out as two prominent institutions with unique offerings. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate of 84% compared to SIUE's 76% in Edwardsville, Illinois. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, USM excels in fields like nursing, business, and education, while SIUE shines in engineering, computer science, and nursing. With a larger student body, SIUE fosters a more diverse community, while USM maintains a smaller, close-knit campus environment. When it comes to graduation rates, SIUE holds a slight edge with a 59% completion rate compared to USM's 56%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two esteemed universities. Dive in to discover which institution aligns best with
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![]() Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville |
![]() University of Southern Mississippi |
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Overview |
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Location | Edwardsville, Illinois | 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 | 74.0% | 70.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 98.1% | 95.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$40
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | 920 - 1160 | N/A |
ACT range | 19 - 26 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 49.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 26.0% | 99.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,995 | 9,314 |
Total number of admissions given out | 8,821 | 8,922 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,992 | 1,587 |
Yield rate | 22.6% | 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) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $26,007 |
In state:
$25,100
Out of state:
$27,100
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Average net price | $15,519 | $13,651 |
Tuition | $9,123 |
In state:
$9,094
Out of state:
$11,094
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,290
Meal plan:
$4,920
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$10,950 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $8,667 |
91.0%
Average amount $9,072 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
46.0%
Average amount $5,063 |
54.0%
Average amount $5,327 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $10,038 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,298 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
9,967
Men 42.8% Women 57.2% |
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7% |
Graduate students |
3,043
Men 38.1% Women 61.9% |
3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 16.6% | 25.7% |
International students | 4.1% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 3,006 | 3,592 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Missouri Texas California Indiana | Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 51.8% | 51.8% |
Dropout rate | 11.6% | 46.0% |
Transferred out | 32.8% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
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