University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM)

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 Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to ULM's 79%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Education, and Nursing. While USM has a slightly larger student body, ULM has a higher graduation rate (58% vs. 54%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into specific data points and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic goals and preferences.
University of Louisiana at Monroe logo

University of Louisiana at Monroe

University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

Overview

Location Monroe, Louisiana 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 69.0% 70.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 69.9% 95.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $20
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1060 - 1270 N/A
ACT range 19 - 24 19 - 26
Students submitting SAT score 6.0%
Students submitting ACT score 93.0% 99.0%
Total number of applicants 4,945 9,314
Total number of admissions given out 3,456 8,922
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,140 1,587
Yield rate 33.0% 17.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,480

Out of state: $37,580
In state: $25,100

Out of state: $27,100
Average net price $10,408 $13,651
Tuition
In state: $5,788

Out of state: $17,888
In state: $9,094

Out of state: $11,094
Room & board $9,390 $10,950
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $12,205
91.0%
Average amount $9,072
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $4,798
54.0%
Average amount $5,327
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $7,783
4.0%
Average amount $12,298

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,728
Men 34.6% Women 65.4%
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
Graduate students 1,990
Men 24.0% Women 76.0%
3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 5.9% 25.7%
International students 3.3% 2.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,257 3,592
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Louisiana Texas Arkansas Alabama California Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Psychology
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 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 53.5% 51.8%
Dropout rate 42.8% 46.0%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,918
  • Year 2: $121,641
  • Year 3: $123,213
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $84,154
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $81,735
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,387
  • Year 2: $71,351
  • Year 3: $73,506
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,673
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $63,630
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,967
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $57,790
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,010
  • Year 2: $55,770
  • Year 3: $55,505
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $53,499
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,120
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $52,793
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,354
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $50,536
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,454
  • Year 2: $31,042
  • Year 3: $41,661
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

Compare Similar Colleges

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