The University of Southern Mississippi College Portrait
The University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS
601.266.1000
The University of Southern Mississippi
World-class academics with a personal touch — a unique combination you won’t find anywhere else! You can choose from over 90 different academic programs with opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, including nationally recognized programs in polymer science, education, and the arts, just to name a few. Academically talented students are offered the chance to thrive in our Honors College, the sixth oldest in the nation among public universities. Looking to see the world? Southern Miss students can study abroad all over the globe — chart your course in one of more than 30 countries worldwide. Your options are almost limitless.
Living in the Southern Miss Community
There’s always something happening at Southern Miss! Athletics, dining, student organizations, rec. sports, shopping, theatre and music…it’s easy to stay busy and make lifelong friendships at Southern Miss. Have the power to get involved! Southern Miss’s expansive academic programs are designed to empower our students with the fundamental knowledge required to succeed in the professional world. We offer a wide variety of degrees in programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, including an extensive catalog of online courses and an International Education program. Various learning centers and institutes are located on campus to enhance your academic experience. Expand your mind, solve problems, think independently, and gain an academic edge at Southern Miss.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
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| Total Students | 15,778 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 12,826 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 4,949 | 39% |
| Men | 7,877 | 61% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 54 | <1% |
| Asian | 142 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 3,805 | 30% |
| Hispanic | 268 | 2% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 6 | <1% |
| White | 7,265 | 57% |
| Two or More Races | 72 | 1% |
| International | 67 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 1,147 | 9% |
| Where do USM undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 89% |
| Other US States & Territories | 11% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are USM undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 24 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 22% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 24 | |
| Math | 17 - 23 | 440 - 540 |
| English | 19 - 26 | |
| Critical Reading | 435 - 565 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top of graduating class Data Not Available | ||
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $17,800
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend The University of Southern Mississippi varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 56% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $4,379. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 55% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,738. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
USM Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 18 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 72% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 89% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 700 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 47% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 15% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 76% |
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Campus-based Housing
75% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
34% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
When visiting the Southern Miss campus your well-being is very important to the university. Our campus prides itself on being a place where people can feel at home and a big part of that is a feeling of personal safety. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, the University Police Department maintains a large presence on-campus, in addition to adequate outdoor lighting and emergency telephones located across the grounds. UPD can also provide escort services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to individuals that have legitimate concerns for their personal safety when moving about campus. Providing a safe and secure environment is a top priority for Southern Miss.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at USM
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 91% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 61% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 28% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 82% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 19% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 40% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 53% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 13% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 91% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 93% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 70% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 67% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 65% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 81% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 71% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 67% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 88% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 66% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 79% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 85% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 83% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at The University of Southern Mississippi in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 2,555 |
| Master's | 727 |
| Doctoral | 141 |
| Total | 3,423 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| EDUCATION | 9% |
| Psychology, General | 8% |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 7% |
| Business Administration and Management, General | 7% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at The University of Southern Mississippi |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of Spring 2010 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 81% four-year success and progress rate means that 81% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,456 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,521 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 77%
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Student Learning at The University of Southern Mississippi
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The University of Southern Mississippi is engaged in the process of continual self-evaluation and improvement. Each Southern Miss academic program identifies student learning outcomes, assesses whether their students achieve these learning outcomes; and develops plans of action to improve student learning. Programs submit annual Assessment Reports as evidence of these activities.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
This university is in the process of collecting and analyzing learning outcomes test results.