- Acceptance rate: 99% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.4, as reported by the college for 2023–24
- ACT, middle 50%: 20–29 composite
- Average net price: $14,050 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what University of Southern Mississippi reported: an average GPA of 3.4 (2023–24), an acceptance rate of 99% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 20–29.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of Southern Mississippi reviews each application.
University of Southern Mississippi average GPA
University of Southern Mississippi reported an average high school GPA of 3.4 for its first-year students who submitted one (100% did), in its 2023–24 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
University of Southern Mississippi acceptance rate
University of Southern Mississippi admitted 6,986 of 7,048 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 99%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Southern Mississippi is a public 4-year university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with 10,193 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered University of Southern Mississippi in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 20 | 24 | 29 |
| ACT English | 19 | 23 | 28 |
| ACT Math | 17 | 21 | 25 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1190 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What University of Southern Mississippi looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
University of Southern Mississippi awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $14,050 a year at University of Southern Mississippi in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into the University of Southern Mississippi?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. University of Southern Mississippi admitted 99% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into the University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.4, as reported by the college in its 2023–24 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
What is the acceptance rate at the University of Southern Mississippi?
University of Southern Mississippi's acceptance rate was 99% for fall 2024: it admitted 6,986 of 7,048 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Do I have a chance at the University of Southern Mississippi with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. University of Southern Mississippi admitted 99% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How much does GPA matter at the University of Southern Mississippi?
A lot: University of Southern Mississippi requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and test scores. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to the University of Southern Mississippi?
Check University of Southern Mississippi's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of Southern Mississippi required SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 99% sent ACT scores.
What are the University of Southern Mississippi's ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of University of Southern Mississippi's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had ACT composite 20–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What is the average net price at the University of Southern Mississippi?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $14,050 a year at University of Southern Mississippi in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at the University of Southern Mississippi?
Yes. University of Southern Mississippi awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at the University of Southern Mississippi if a parent went there?
No. University of Southern Mississippi doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check the University of Southern Mississippi's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of Southern MississippiU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- University of Southern Mississippi Common Data Set 2023–24University of Southern Mississippi: average high school GPA of first-year students.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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