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Graduate Admissions

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  • ADMISSION TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS

    Admission Requirements

    Admission is competitive and based on a holistic review of the applicant’s credentials by departments.  The University sets minimum requirements for regular admission into graduate school, including:

    • Minimum GPA of 2.75/4.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
    • Good standing at last university attended
    • Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, MAT, or other acceptable exam)
    • Three letters of recommendation
    • Statement of purpose or writing sample (according to departmental requirements)
    • Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores (international students)
    • $60 non-refundable application fee
    • Original transcripts and immunization records (required prior to enrolling for classes if admitted)
      International applicants, please mail official transcripts to:
      The University of Southern Mississippi
      International Admissions
      118 College Drive #5135
      Hattiesburg, MS 39406-001/USA

    Individual graduate programs may have additional or more stringent requirements. Departmental websites should be consulted for more details about program-specific expectations for admission. 

    Deadlines

    Application deadlines vary by academic department and/or program and by semester for which admission is desired. Prospective students should contact departments for details.

    Program Contacts & Deadlines

    Step by Step Guide to Applying

    Frequently Asked Questions


    Contact Graduate Admissions
    Mailing address:
    The University of Southern Mississippi
    118 College Drive #5024
    Hattiesburg, MS 39406
    Physical location: McCain Library, Room 200
    Phone: 601.266.5137 Fax: 601.266.5138
    Send email

  • TUITION, ASSISTANTSHIPS & AID

    Tuition and fees at Southern Miss are among the lowest in Mississippi, the Gulf Coast region, and the Southeast – particularly for out-of-state students, who may find attending Southern Miss to be more affordable than attending an institution in their home state.

    Students may apply through academic departments for graduate teaching or research assistantships.  Graduate assistants receive waivers for both in-state and out-of-state tuition.  Domestic graduate assistants also have the option of enrolling in health insurance through United Health Care.  International students must enroll in health insurance.  USM subsidizes 50% of the cost of health insurance for GAs.

    A limited number of Federal Work-Study assistantships are available to departments as designated by the Graduate School. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for work-study and federal loans. Once eligibility has been determined, the student should contact the Graduate School for a list of departments approved to hire work-study graduate assistants.

    $8,218

    per year in tuition and fees for Mississippi residents

     

    $10,218

    per year in tuition and fees for non-residents

    Tuition & Costs
    Financial Aid
    Graduate Assistantships

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Advance Your Education at Southern Miss

Through an extensive selection of top-ranked degree and certificate programs and quality professional development opportunities, our graduates impact the world in diverse fields such as ocean science, psychology, social work, nursing, business and the arts.        

Our exceptional faculty experts provide quality mentorship and advisement and are dedicated to fostering a culture of discovery, creativity and diversity, where opportunities for innovation abound.

Our research achievements and our strong dedication to our community set us apart as a highly ranked program, recognized by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Our responsive administration is paving a solid pathway for each graduate student to acquire the knowledge and skills for success at Southern Miss and beyond.

Applying to graduate school is easy, and our staff are eager to assist if you have questions.

All Graduate Programs Online Graduate Programs Meet Our Staff

#1

Counseling Psychology PhD Program in the Nation (CounselingPsychology.org, 2014)

#8

Sport Management Master of Science among the Best Online Master's programs (OnlineColleges.net, 2016)

100%

Pass Rate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program (American Nurses Credentialing Center, 2015)

#6

Most Affordable Master's in Library and Information Science among the Top 30 Affordable Online Master's programs (Grad School Hub, 2016)

Top 200

Part-time MBA program in the nation and only part-time MBA program ranked in Mississippi. (U.S. News and World Report, 2017)

100%

Job placement rate for Hydrographic Science Master’s program

Research

Faculty members working in a lab environment.

Where Class is More Than a Classroom

Southern Miss is the Gulf South's premier research institution and is classified among Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation.

Most graduate students are active in research through faculty who have their own research groups or labs, many funded through external grants. In fiscal year 2014-15, Southern Miss earned $73 million in research funding.

The University has produced 16 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellows since 2007, representing more than $2.5 million in funding to the awardees.

Research

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Deadlines vary by academic school and department, and by semester.

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