University of Southern Mississippi (USM) vs University of West Alabama (UWA)

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 West Alabama (UWA) are two distinct institutions with unique offerings. USM, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, boasts a higher acceptance rate (86%) compared to UWA's 78%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at USM including Nursing, Business Administration, and Psychology, while UWA excels in fields like Education, Business, and Criminal Justice. While USM's student body is more diverse, UWA has a slightly higher graduation rate (52% vs. 49%). Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into specific data points and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Southern Mississippi logo

University of Southern Mississippi

University of West Alabama logo

University of West Alabama

Overview

Location Hattiesburg, Mississippi Livingston, Alabama
Campus setting City: Small Rural: Remote
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% 63.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 95.8% 74.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $40
SAT range N/A 880 - 980
ACT range 19 - 26 17 - 21
Students submitting SAT score 2.0%
Students submitting ACT score 99.0% 69.0%
Total number of applicants 9,314 1,539
Total number of admissions given out 8,922 1,144
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,587 351
Yield rate 17.8% 30.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not 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: $22,911

Out of state: $32,011
Average net price $13,651 $15,435
Tuition
In state: $9,094

Out of state: $11,094
In state: $9,100

Out of state: $18,200
Room & board $10,950
Room/dormitory: $4,760

Meal plan: $2,834
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $9,072
89.0%
Average amount $7,129
Students receiving federal student loan 54.0%
Average amount $5,327
65.0%
Average amount $5,418
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $12,298
3.0%
Average amount $8,357

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7%
2,322
Men 30.6% Women 69.4%
Graduate students 3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
3,272
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 25.7% N/A
International students 2.8% 2.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small Rural: Remote
Dormitory capacity 3,592 1,019
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 N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 14:1
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% 39.1%
Dropout rate 46.0% 21.5%
Transferred out N/A 36.0%
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
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,363
  • Year 2: $61,681
  • Year 3: $64,667
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,130
  • Year 2: $53,942
  • Year 3: $55,799
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,682
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $54,452
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,975
  • Year 2: $48,510
  • Year 3: $51,622
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,470
  • Year 2: $46,380
  • Year 3: $48,647
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,701
  • Year 2: $46,261
  • Year 3: $47,958
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,803
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $47,734
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,054
  • Year 3: $35,960
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,711
  • Year 3: N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,983
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A

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