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Frequently Asked Questions

Admission Requirements

FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS  

Students planning to enter the university as freshmen must complete the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) listed below and submit a composite ACT or combined SAT (verbal/quantitative) score. Please note that the writing components of the ACT and SAT are not used in evaluation for admission. Full admission will be granted to the following:  

1. All students completing the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a minimum of a 3.2 high school GPA on the CPC and a submitted ACT (composite) or SAT score
2. All students completing the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a minimum of a 2.5 high school GPA on the CPC or a class rank in the top 50 percent, as well as a score of 16 or higher on the ACT (composite) or a combined score of *770 or higher in critical reading and math on the SAT
3. All students completing the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with a minimum of 2.0 high school GPA on the CPC and a score of 18 or higher on the ACT (composite) or a combined score of *860 or higher in critical reading and math on the SAT
4. Students who satisfy the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) standards for student-athletes who are full qualifiers under Division I guidelines

*Based on any SAT taken before March 2016

The University of Southern Mississippi accepts scores from both the old SAT (any SAT taken before March 2016) and the newly redesigned SAT. If you have taken the SAT after March 1, 2016, use College Board’s SAT Score Converter to compare your SAT scores to old SAT scores.

TRANSFER ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS  

A transfer applicant can be admitted to Southern Miss through several different routes. Please note that admission to some academic programs may require students to meet additional requirements.  

ADMISSION THROUGH TRADITIONAL TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS  

Students must have either an associate degree intended for transfer from a regionally accredited institution or have completed the 30 semester hours of designated coursework outlined below with a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average for admission.  

• 6 semester hours of English Composition (English Composition I and II)  
• 3 semester hours of mathematics (college algebra, quantitative reasoning, or higher mathematics)  

• 6 semester hours of natural science (courses must be laboratory-based, with the lecture courses accompanied by the respective lab course)  
• 9 semester hours of humanities and fine arts (common examples of acceptable coursework are history, philosophy, religion, world literature, art, music)  
• 6 semester hours of social or behavioral sciences (common examples of acceptable coursework are anthropology, geography, sociology, psychology, social work)  

ADMISSION THROUGH FRESHMAN REQUIREMENTS  

Students must meet freshman admission requirements and have earned a minimum 2.0 cumulative college grade point average for admission. Please note that transfer students admitted through this route must submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended after high school and that transfer credits will be applied toward their degree at Southern Miss.  

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION THROUGH ADULT STATUS  

An applicant who is at least 21 years old and does not meet any other admission requirements may apply for admission as a non-degree-seeking student, which is commonly referred to as the conditional status. Students seeking admission through this route must have a minimum cumulative college grade point average of 2.0. Students with this status may enroll in no more than 12 semester hours and must a minimum 2.0 grade point average during the first 12 hours of enrollment at the university. Once these requirements are satisfactorily met, all restrictions are lifted and the student is considered degree-seeking. Students admitted on this status may experience financial aid restrictions, including Pell Grant ineligibility. Once conditional status requirements are satisfied, all financial aid restrictions will be lifted.