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University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS 9,899 Undergrads 52.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,482
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,224
After Aid
Median Earnings
$44,140
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,224
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$44,140
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate52.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS64.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
99.4%
SAT Avg
1,120
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 27
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$389k
-$7k
-$95k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$338k
-$58k
-$146k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$298k
-$99k
-$187k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
Never
-285%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-204%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-257%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-112%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,425
Earnings (5yr)
$53,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1501
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$66,146
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
$24,990
Earnings (2yr)
$21,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,548
Earnings (5yr)
$52,007
Lifetime Value Added
-$74k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,509
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$18,267
Earnings (5yr)
$48,228
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,183
Earnings (5yr)
$45,264
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Data Processing
BachCIP: 1103
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (2yr)
$47,846
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,298
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$29k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$22,506
Earnings (5yr)
$47,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,411
Earnings (5yr)
$38,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$194k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$29,677
Earnings (5yr)
$41,738
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,172
Earnings (5yr)
$50,793
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,425
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,055
Lifetime Value Added
-$261k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$18,154
Lifetime Value Added
-$352k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,278
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,603
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$27,518
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$334k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$36,600
Lifetime Value Added
-$203k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$25,575
Earnings (5yr)
$34,209
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,327
Earnings (5yr)
$72,090
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Security Science and Technology
BachCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,317
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,536
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,924
Earnings (5yr)
$39,104
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,508
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$22,771
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,569
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$83,412
Lifetime Value Added
+$271k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$24,180
Earnings (5yr)
$59,627
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,759
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$96,256
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$38,447
Earnings (5yr)
$108,747
Lifetime Value Added
+$488k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$33,632
Earnings (5yr)
$50,320
Lifetime Value Added
-$23k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,413
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Doctoral Degrees
Education, General
DocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,970
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$143,995
Earnings (5yr)
$233,690
Lifetime Value Added
+$1198k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.