AccessibleUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

University of Southern Mississippi acceptance rate and admissions profile

University of Southern Mississippi, a public university in Mississippi, reports a 99% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what University of Southern Mississippi weighs, where it ranks among Mississippi schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1150, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
99%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1150
of admitted students
Type
Public
Mississippi
Selectivity in state
#13
of 14 in MS
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Will I get into University of Southern Mississippi?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Southern Mississippi, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into University of Southern Mississippi?

Your odds at University of Southern Mississippi are not the same as its 99% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Southern Mississippi in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is University of Southern Mississippi hard to get into?

University of Southern Mississippi is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 99% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into University of Southern Mississippi?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Southern Mississippi, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of Southern Mississippi reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for University of Southern Mississippi?

University of Southern Mississippi does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1150. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Southern Mississippi.

Calculate your chances at University of Southern Mississippi

What University of Southern Mississippi looks for

What University of Southern Mississippi weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at University of Southern Mississippi are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Southern Mississippi's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important

SAT score positioning at University of Southern Mississippi

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at University of Southern Mississippi
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1150 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How University of Southern Mississippi compares in Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi ranks #13 most selective of 14 schools in Mississippi in our database.

Among the 14 Mississippi schools we track, University of Southern Mississippi ranks #13 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Mississippi College (29%) and Millsaps College (43%) sit nearby, which makes Mississippi a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Mississippi College
29%acceptance · MS
Millsaps College
43%acceptance · MS
Alcorn State University
45%acceptance · MS
Rust College
49%acceptance · MS
Belhaven University
50%acceptance · MS
Tougaloo College
60%acceptance · MS
William Carey University
60%acceptance · MS
Mississippi State University
78%acceptance · MS
See all Mississippi schools →

Similar to University of Southern Mississippi

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting University of Southern Mississippi often weigh Southeastern Louisiana University, University of South Dakota, and Utah Valley University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Southeastern Louisiana University
99%acceptance · LA
University of South Dakota
99%acceptance · SD
Utah Valley University
99%acceptance · UT
Adams State University
99%acceptance · CO
Central State University
99%acceptance · OH
Columbus State University
99%acceptance · GA

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Southern Mississippi value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, University of Southern Mississippi weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does University of Southern Mississippi favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, University of Southern Mississippi generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at University of Southern Mississippi?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Southern Mississippi specifically.

What are the admission requirements for University of Southern Mississippi?

University of Southern Mississippi reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is University of Southern Mississippi test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm University of Southern Mississippi's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1150; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.