Business School at University of Southern Mississippi
Public university ยท Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- AACSB accredited
- MBA
- Online MBA
University of Southern Mississippi is a public university with graduate business programs in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Those programs run through the College of Business. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The business school holds AACSB accreditation. It is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States, and it covers the school as a whole rather than any one program - a floor, not a ranking. More on accreditation.
Federal reporting puts graduate enrollment at 2,977 students, alongside 10,075 undergraduates. Total enrollment is not MBA cohort size - ask the admissions office how many students are in the specific program you're considering, which is usually a far smaller number and the one that shapes your experience.
Based on MBA Lab's directory data, the school offers a graduate MBA path and an online MBA format for remote or working students. Format availability changes; confirm the current lineup with the school before planning around it.
It is the only school in Hattiesburg in this directory - the other 4 business school options in Mississippi are elsewhere in the state, so weigh travel time against fit before ruling them out.
What to ask University of Southern Mississippi
These questions are picked from what MBA Lab's data already says about this school, so they're the ones most likely to surface a real difference between it and the next school on your list.
- Residency and tuition tier. As a public institution, University of Southern Mississippi may price in-state and out-of-state students differently, and some programs charge a flat rate regardless. Ask which tier you'd fall into and whether it changes after a year of residency.
- What "online" means here. Ask whether classes are live at set times or self-paced, whether any on-campus residencies are required, and whether online students get the same career services, clubs, and recruiting access as on-campus students. These answers vary widely between schools that use the same word.
- Where the degree is administered. Programs run through the College of Business may have their own admissions timeline, aid pool, and career office, separate from the university's central graduate school. Confirm which office owns your application.
- Ask for the school's own outcome numbers. The federal figures on this page cover business master's graduates who took federal aid, pooled across several years. The school's employment report will be narrower and more current - ask for it by program and by graduating class, not a blended average.
At a glance
| Institution | University of Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Business school | College of Business |
| Control | public |
| Location | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Campus setting | Small city |
| Carnegie class | Doctoral university, very high research activity (R1) |
| MBA formats listed | MBA Online MBA |
| Graduate enrollment | 2,977 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,075 |
| Business accreditation | AACSB — view listing |
| Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Official site | Visit website |
| Net price calculator | Estimate your cost |
| Federal data | College Scorecard profile |
School names, locations, and program formats are curated by MBA Lab and reviewed periodically (last data update: July 2026). Enrollment, accreditation, links, and any outcome figures come from U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Always verify formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. How this data works.
Reported outcomes
Among the 4 schools in MBA Lab's Mississippi business schools directory that report a figure, University of Southern Mississippi ranks 3rd by one-year earnings. Schools that report nothing are left out of that count rather than counted as zero.
What these numbers are. Figures cover graduates of master's-level programs in Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) who received federal financial aid. At some institutions that group includes business master's degrees other than the MBA, and it never includes graduates who took no federal aid - so these are a directional signal about a school's business master's programs, not an MBA salary report. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Check University of Southern Mississippi's Scorecard profile. Full methodology.
Compare with other schools in Mississippi
| School | City | AACSB | Formats listed | Earnings, 1 yr out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi This page | Hattiesburg | Yes | MBA, Online MBA | $71,153 |
| Mississippi State University | Starkville | Yes | MBA, Online MBA | $96,306 |
| University of Mississippi | Oxford | Yes | MBA, Online MBA | $88,581 |
| Jackson State University | Jackson | Yes | MBA, Online MBA, Part-Time MBA | $52,452 |
| Millsaps College | Jackson | Yes | MBA | Not reported |
"Not reported" means College Scorecard publishes no figure for that school - usually too few federally-aided graduates to release without identifying them. It is not a low number, and these schools are excluded from every average on this page rather than counted as zero. A dash under AACSB means the school isn't on AACSB's accredited list; it may hold ACBSP or IACBE accreditation instead, which this directory doesn't track.
This school in other directories
Frequently asked questions
What MBA formats does University of Southern Mississippi offer?
MBA Lab's directory lists an online MBA at University of Southern Mississippi, alongside the core MBA. Formats change - confirm the current lineup on the school's official site.
What do graduates of University of Southern Mississippi's business master's programs earn?
College Scorecard reports median earnings of $71,153 one year after completion for graduates of master's-level Business Administration programs at University of Southern Mississippi who received federal financial aid. Four years out the reported median is $87,139. That group can include business master's degrees other than the MBA, and excludes graduates who took no federal aid, so treat it as a directional signal rather than an MBA salary figure.
How much debt do students take on at University of Southern Mississippi?
The reported median federal graduate debt is $20,500 for business master's graduates at University of Southern Mississippi. Against the reported one-year earnings median, that is about 0.29x a year of earnings. Federal loans are only part of the cost picture - it excludes private loans, employer sponsorship, and savings.
Is University of Southern Mississippi's business school AACSB-accredited?
Yes - University of Southern Mississippi appears on AACSB's list of accredited institutions. AACSB, founded in 1916, is the longest-established of the three business-school accreditors recognized in the United States (the others are ACBSP and IACBE). Accreditation covers the school, not any individual program, so treat it as a quality floor rather than a ranking.
Is University of Southern Mississippi a public or private institution?
University of Southern Mississippi is a public university, and MBA Lab lists its graduate business programs in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How do I compare University of Southern Mississippi with other schools in Mississippi?
MBA Lab lists 5 schools in its Mississippi business schools directory. Use a consistent rubric across them: curriculum, recruiting outcomes, format fit, cost after aid, and location constraints.
Where should I verify program details?
Always confirm formats, deadlines, and costs on the school's official admissions pages. MBA Lab is a planning directory, not an admissions authority, and does not endorse specific schools.
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