University of Southern Mississippi

Yes, USM is online. According to the NCES, 20% of USM's undergraduates and 48% of its graduate students participate in courses entirely remotely. They enroll throughout USM's over 4 dozen online degree programs and certificates. 

Examples of online bachelor's degrees include elementary education, industrial engineering technology, public health, and construction management. Online master's degrees include business administration (MBA), higher education, public relations, and sport management.

Yes, USM's online degrees are legitimate because they come from an accredited institution. Employers respect online degrees from USM for the same reason.

USM is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees, and certificates. The SACSCOC is an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation it confers to USM means it finds USM's financial practices sound and that its academic programming meets federal quality standards.

To provide the most trustworthy school available, OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site.

Yes, USM is a good school, partially because of its favorable accreditation status. Also, the school has a tendency to attract and keep students, with a 72% retention rate, according to College Scorecard data. Its graduation rate is just under the national average at 51%. 

Additionally, USM has a diverse student body, with approximately 40% identifying as Black, Hispanic, Asian, and two or more races. This diversity encourages students to share and learn from different perspectives, enriching the overall experience. 

Additionally, USM is known for its Carnegie R1 classification due to its very high research activity. 

USM is known for being affordable. According to USM's website, it costs an average of $9,300 annually for an online bachelor's or master's degree if attending full time. It may not be one of the most affordable online colleges, but it's significantly less than the $25,700 average the Education Data Initiative reports.

To help make attending college even more affordable, USM is also known for its scholarships designed specifically for online students. Full-time students enrolled in USM's online undergraduate and graduate programs may be eligible to receive $500 if they have a minimum 2.5 GPA. 

According to the U.S. Department's College Scorecard, USM's bachelor's degree in architectural engineering technologies, registered nursing, finance, and accounting provide the highest earnings. Graduates earn median annual salaries of approximately $66,700, $63,100, $60,400, and $49,100, accordingly. 

Additionally, OnlineU's proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. Out of 100 total points, USM has a bachelor's Salary Score of 21, 12 for its master's degrees, and 94 for its doctoral degrees.

Getting into USM is very easy. According to College Scorecard, it accepts 96% of applicants, which is almost anyone who applies. However, applying for admission requires taking an entrance exam, such as the SAT or ACT. 

Although individual degree programs may have additional requirements, USM's admission requirements for first-year students generally include the following:

• An application 
• A $45 application fee
• Official high school transcripts showing a minimum 2.0 GPA and the completion of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC), or a GED
• Official college transcripts, if transferring credits
• Official military transcripts, if applicable
• ACT scores of 16 or higher and equivalent SAT scores

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