Head-to-head · 2026
Southwest Mississippi Community College vs University of Mississippi
Compare average net price ($2,525 at Southwest Mississippi Community College; $13,314 at University of Mississippi), ROI score (32.90 vs 9.58), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($33,227 vs $50,994), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Southwest Mississippi Community College; 96.6% at University of Mississippi) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Southwest Mississippi Community College | University of Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 32.90 ✓ | 9.58 |
| Avg net price | $2,525 ✓ | $13,314 |
| 4-year avg net price | $10,100 ✓ | $53,256 |
| In-state tuition | $4,080 | $9,772 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,780 | $28,600 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $33,227 | $50,994 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 96.6% |
| Graduation rate | 55.9% | 71.7% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 69.2% | 87.2% ✓ |
| Median debt | — | $20,000 |
| Enrollment | 1,474 | 21,473 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | 1184 |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Southwest Mississippi Community College | University of Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $2,171 ✓ | $8,945 |
| Family income $30–48k | $2,136 ✓ | $9,217 |
| Family income $48–75k | $4,511 ✓ | $14,794 |
| Family income $75–110k | $4,410 ✓ | $18,573 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $21,313 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Southwest Mississippi Community College | University of Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 40.6% | 1.4% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15.4% | 7.7% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 6.4% | 0.6% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 0.4% | 5.7% |
| Marketing | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1.3% | 2.8% |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 0.2% | 2.9% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Southwest Mississippi Community College reports the lower average net price by $10,789 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $43,156 difference over four years ($10,100 vs $53,256).
University of Mississippi reports $17,767 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($50,994 vs $33,227). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 69.2% at Southwest Mississippi Community College and 87.2% at University of Mississippi. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
7 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Southwest Mississippi Community College vs University of Mississippi, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Southwest Mississippi Community College is cheaper — average net price $2,525 per year vs $13,314 at University of Mississippi. The annual difference of $10,789 adds up to about $43,156 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
University of Mississippi reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $50,994 vs $33,227 at Southwest Mississippi Community College. The gap in the federal data is $17,767. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.