
118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, USA


The University of Southern Mississippi's graduation rates reflect moderate outcomes relative to national benchmarks. The overall graduation rate stands at 51%, placing the institution in approximately the bottom 40th percentile compared to peer schools. This indicates that just over half of the students complete their degree programs within the typical timeframe measured.
When broken down by gender, women experience a somewhat higher graduation rate of 55%, while men graduate at a lower rate of 42%. Both figures align with the institution's overall mid-range performance, with women's completion rates also falling in the bottom 40% and men's rates ranking even lower in the bottom 35% nationwide.
Examining four-year graduation specifically, the university's rate is 34%, reflecting that about one-third of students earn their degrees within four years. This figure again positions the university below many of its counterparts in this metric. The six-year graduation rate rises to 51%, consistent with the overall reported graduation rate, but still reflects room for improvement in student persistence and completion.
Retention rates provide additional context for student success at the university. A retention rate of 70% indicates that a significant majority of freshmen continue into their second year, although this rate is also relatively low compared with national averages, ranking in the bottom 35%.
Graduates of University of Southern Mississippi display a wide range of earning potentials depending on their field of study. Among the degrees with the highest reported earnings are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, with an average income of $55,957. Similarly, those who earned degrees in Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians can expect to earn around $53,555.
Fields within computer and information sciences also offer competitive salaries. Graduates with a Computer and Information Sciences, General degree earn about $51,563, while those in Data Processing report average earnings of $38,705. Other STEM-related fields like Teacher Education and Professional Development show solid returns, with earnings between $31,483 and $33,313, depending on the specialization.
Business-related degrees provide moderate earning potentials. Graduates in Finance and Financial Management Services earn approximately $39,129, while those in Business Administration, Management and Operations make about $38,213 on average. Marketing graduates see incomes of around $33,050, and degree holders in Accounting and Related Services have a similar average at $36,779.
For those interested in social and behavioral sciences, earnings tend to be lower but remain competitive relative to some other fields. Graduates in Criminal Justice and Corrections earn around $32,630, while Social Work averages $27,534. The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management degree offers earnings near $31,091, slightly above some other social science disciplines.
Degrees in fields like Journalism and English Language and Literature, General yield moderate salaries, with average earnings of $26,614 and $25,652 respectively. Graduates in Psychology, General earn about $25,247, whereas Health and Physical Education/Fitness reports an income near $25,638. Similarly, Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies shows earnings of roughly $28,722.
Majors related to health sciences reveal varied income levels. For instance, graduates with degrees in Public Health report earnings around $28,418, and those in Communication Disorders Sciences and Services earn approximately $20,801. Notably, Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services shows an average salary near $21,898.
Other interdisciplinary or general studies fields provide incomes in the mid to upper $20,000 range. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other average $29,840, while Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities report about $24,511. Graduates in History earn closer to $27,793 on average.
Career Centers:
Full time employees: Data not available
Part time employees: Data not available
Career Counselling:
Individual: All undergraduates
Group: Data not available
Career Center services:
Other information:
Job bank on campus
YesJob fairs on campus
YesIndividual job placement
All undergraduatesOn campus employer recruitment
All undergraduatesBACHELOR’S Degree
Architecture and Related Services
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Education
Engineering
Engineering/Engineering-related Technologies/Technicians
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Legal Professions and Studies
English Language and Literature/Letters
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Library Science
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
History
MASTER’S Degree
Natural Resources and Conservation
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Education
Engineering
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
English Language and Literature/Letters
Library Science
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
History
DOCTOR’S Degree
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Education
Engineering
English Language and Literature/Letters
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
History