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University of Southern Mississippi

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

University of Southern Mississippi award
University of Southern Mississippi award
US ranking
position: 109
Tuition & fees per year: $10,504
Acceptance rate: 99.00%
Median alumni salary: $39,715
Avg. SAT and ACT: 23 ACT
Entrance difficulty: Moderate

What are the graduation rates for students at University of Southern Mississippi?

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%.

What is the earning potential for graduates at University of Southern Mississippi?

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.

University of Southern Mississippi Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation 51%
Graduation rate, total cohort
4-year Graduation 34%
Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years, total
6-year Graduation 51%
Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years, total

University of Southern Mississippi Career Help & Outcomes

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:

  • Job Interviews
  • Career library
  • Resume preparation
  • Resume refers to employers
  • Career/Interest testing
  • Interview workshop
  • Alumni network

Other information:

Job bank on campus

Yes

Job fairs on campus

Yes

Individual job placement

All undergraduates

On campus employer recruitment

All undergraduates

University of Southern Mississippi Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Architecture and Related Services

729

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

442064

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

96372

Education

23023253

Engineering

31114

Engineering/Engineering-related Technologies/Technicians

28105133

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

7411

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

82183

Legal Professions and Studies

12517

English Language and Literature/Letters

39948

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

6678144

Library Science

42345

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

9329122

Mathematics and Statistics

235

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

459

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

6364127

Philosophy and Religious Studies

415

Physical Sciences

131124

Psychology

14621167

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

7924103

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

68472

Social Sciences

372966

Visual and Performing Arts

6452116

Health Professions and Related Programs

30344347

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

245215460

History

161935

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Natural Resources and Conservation

011

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

538

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

122335

Education

10239141

Engineering

51015

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

45247

English Language and Literature/Letters

606

Library Science

10520125

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

81220

Mathematics and Statistics

101

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

213354

Physical Sciences

51116

Psychology

14923

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

617

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

55762

Social Sciences

639

Visual and Performing Arts

121628

Health Professions and Related Programs

9118109

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

7762139

History

358

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

8311

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

145

Education

7733110

Engineering

51015

English Language and Literature/Letters

369

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

5510

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

101

Physical Sciences

123

Psychology

14519

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

101

Social Sciences

123

Visual and Performing Arts

4610

Health Professions and Related Programs

491261

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

8311

History

314