University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP)
When it comes to higher education, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) offer distinct experiences for prospective students. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to UNCP's 68%, making it a more accessible option. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at USM including Nursing, Business Administration, and Elementary Education, while UNCP excels in fields such as Business Administration, Elementary Education, and Psychology. While USM's student body is predominantly White (62%), UNCP's student population is more diverse, with a significant proportion of Native American students (32%). As for graduation rates, USM's four-year graduation rate stands at 24%, while UNCP's is slightly higher at 26%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key
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![]() University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
![]() University of Southern Mississippi |
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Overview |
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Location | Pembroke, North Carolina | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | 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 | 73.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 91.8% | 95.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$55
Graduate:
$55
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | 890 - 1140 | N/A |
ACT range | 16 - 21 | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | 7.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 35.0% | 99.0% |
Total number of applicants | 5,578 | 9,314 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,123 | 8,922 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 896 | 1,587 |
Yield rate | 17.5% | 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 |
In state:
$15,607
Out of state:
$19,607
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In state:
$25,100
Out of state:
$27,100
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Average net price | $11,022 | $13,651 |
Tuition |
In state:
$1,000
Out of state:
$5,000
|
In state:
$9,094
Out of state:
$11,094
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,174
Meal plan:
$4,510
|
$10,950 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
83.0%
Average amount $6,136 |
91.0%
Average amount $9,072 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
55.0%
Average amount $5,275 |
54.0%
Average amount $5,327 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,298 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,317
Men 37.1% Women 62.9% |
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7% |
Graduate students |
2,001
Men 29.4% Women 70.6% |
3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 11.8% | 25.7% |
International students | 1.4% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 2,330 | 3,592 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Georgia Florida | 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 | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 43.2% | 51.8% |
Dropout rate | 18.2% | 46.0% |
Transferred out | 36.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (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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