Costs and Scholarships

Basic Costs

Use our helpful Funding Guide to better understand what your financial bottom line may be at Southern Miss.

These rates are subject to change with prior approval from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or University policy.

Note: Amounts reflect the 2025-26 Academic Year.

*Includes capital improvement fee of $35 each fall/spring semester and student activities fee of $20 each fall/spring semester
**Includes nonresident fee of $1,000 per fall/spring semester

Campus Housing

Meal Plans

Federal Financial Aid

Southern Miss School Code: 002441

The federal government is the single largest source of financial assistance to college students, and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is how you apply for financial aid. There is no income cut-off to qualify for federal financial aid. Many factors besides income—from the size of your family to the age of your oldest parent— are taken into account. Your eligibility is determined by a mathematical formula, not by your parents’ income alone. The information provided by you on the FAFSA is the only official way that you and your family can demonstrate your financial need to Southern Miss.  

Grants are offers of financial aid that do not have to be paid back. Loans are offers of financial aid that do have to be paid back once your college enrollment is over.  It is in your best interest to complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible. Early completion and submission of your FAFSA to Southern Miss also means that you will be in the first pool of students to be considered for additional funds. While you are under no obligation to accept offers of loans or grants, knowing how much financial aid you are qualified to receive may help you and your family make the best decision at the end of your college search. 

• Start your FAFSA at StudentAid.gov
• Net Price Calculator Tool
• Southern Miss Office of Financial Aid
• Military Benefits

State Financial Aid for Mississippi Residents

The state of Mississippi offers aid opportunities for first-year Mississippi college students. These aid opportunities are grants (which do not have to be paid back), and students are typically able to combine these grants with other scholarships and other forms of financial aid. In addition to FAFSA, you must also file an application for state aid online at msfinancialaid.org by the stated deadlines in order to receive consideration for MTAG, MESG, and HELP.

Scholarships

Southern Miss offers generous scholarship opportunities to both incoming freshmen and transfer students. It is important that you are aware of important admission and application deadlines in order to receive consideration for these scholarships.

• Freshman scholarships

  • Awarding Guidelines
  • Academic Excellence Scholarships
  • Designation-Based Scholarships
  • Competitive Freshman Scholarships (Honors College Scholarships, Joe Paul Leadership Scholars Program and Luckyday Scholarship)
  • National Merit Scholarships
  • Dual Enrollment Scholarships

• Transfer scholarships

  • Awarding Guidelines
  • Available Scholarships if Last School Attended is a Community College
  • Available Scholarships if Last School Attended is a Four-Year Institution