The average acceptance rate at USM over the past 10 years is 90.11%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 99.12%. The acceptance rate at USM is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 26.87%, and the 2025 yield is 24.98%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 42.60% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of USM applicants decreased by 20.07% (1,770 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 16.57% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 99.12%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that USM is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 24.98%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at USM. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, USM received approximately 7,048 applications, admitted 6,986 students, and enrolled 1,745 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that USM is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
USM 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at USM over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 90.11%, while the most recent rate stands at 99.12%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 99.12%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 89.23% and for women is 90.56%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at USM have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 58.04% | 56.32% | 58.90% |
| 2016-17 | 60.14% 2.10% |
60.23% 3.91% |
60.08% 1.18% |
| 2017-18 | 98.43% 38.30% |
97.64% 37.41% |
98.86% 38.78% |
| 2018-19 | 97.88% -0.55% |
97.06% -0.58% |
98.30% -0.56% |
| 2019-20 | 96.94% -0.94% |
95.83% -1.23% |
97.54% -0.75% |
| 2020-21 | 96.33% -0.61% |
95.39% -0.43% |
96.79% -0.76% |
| 2021-22 | 96.00% -0.34% |
94.01% -1.38% |
97.00% 0.22% |
| 2022-23 | 98.84% 2.84% |
98.20% 4.19% |
99.16% 2.15% |
| 2023-24 | 99.38% 0.54% |
98.85% 0.64% |
99.67% 0.51% |
| 2024-25 | 99.12% -0.26% |
98.80% -0.05% |
99.31% -0.36% |
| Average | 90.11% | 89.23% | 90.56% |
USM has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 43.52% in 2015 to 24.98% in 2025, representing a 42.60% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 26.87%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at USM from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 42.60% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 43.52% | 43.75% | 43.41% |
| 2016-17 | 50.02% 6.50% |
45.85% 2.10% |
52.52% 9.11% |
| 2017-18 | 30.34% -19.67% |
29.09% -16.76% |
31.01% -21.50% |
| 2018-19 | 24.85% -5.49% |
24.08% -5.01% |
25.24% -5.78% |
| 2019-20 | 21.13% -3.72% |
20.72% -3.36% |
21.35% -3.89% |
| 2020-21 | 17.96% -3.17% |
17.89% -2.83% |
17.99% -3.36% |
| 2021-22 | 18.00% 0.04% |
18.01% 0.12% |
18.00% 0.01% |
| 2022-23 | 18.15% 0.16% |
18.45% 0.44% |
18.01% 0.01% |
| 2023-24 | 19.78% 1.62% |
20.83% 2.38% |
19.20% 1.20% |
| 2024-25 | 24.98% 5.20% |
25.95% 5.12% |
24.42% 5.22% |
| Average | 26.87% | 26.46% | 27.11% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 7,928, the average number of admitted is 7,316, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,734.
The number of USM applicants decreased by 20.07% (1,770 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 16.57% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of Southern Mississippi from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 6,046 | 3,509 | 1,527 |
| 2016-17 | 5,180 -14.32% |
3,115 -11.23% |
1,558 2.03% |
| 2017-18 | 6,372 23.01% |
6,272 101.35% |
1,903 22.14% |
| 2018-19 | 8,550 34.18% |
8,369 33.43% |
2,080 9.30% |
| 2019-20 | 9,217 7.80% |
8,935 6.76% |
1,888 -9.23% |
| 2020-21 | 9,683 5.06% |
9,328 4.40% |
1,675 -11.28% |
| 2021-22 | 9,314 -3.81% |
8,941 -4.15% |
1,609 -3.94% |
| 2022-23 | 9,051 -2.82% |
8,946 0.06% |
1,624 0.93% |
| 2023-24 | 8,818 -2.57% |
8,763 -2.05% |
1,733 6.71% |
| 2024-25 | 7,048 -20.07% |
6,986 -20.28% |
1,745 0.69% |
| Average | 7,928 | 7,316 | 1,734 |
The following table compares University of Southern Mississippi' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi | 99.38% | 99.12% | -0.26% |
| Western Kentucky University | 93.87% | 97.05% | -3.28% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 79.60% | 80.21% | -0.76% |
| Florida International University | 54.66% | 58.84% | -7.10% |
| University of North Texas | 72.23% | 72.46% | -0.32% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 69.09% | 68.00% | 1.60% |
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