University of Southern Mississippi vs Belhaven University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Belhaven University comes closer — median earnings $46,440 against a $62,704 total, vs $44,140 at University of Southern Mississippi. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Southern Mississippi | Belhaven University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,708 | $15,676 |
| Total net cost | $86,832 | $62,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,140 | $46,440 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $26,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,232 | -$101,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Southern Mississippi or Belhaven University?
Belhaven University, at $15,676 a year after aid versus $21,708 — a gap of $6,032 a year, or $24,128 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Southern Mississippi or Belhaven University graduates earn more?
Belhaven University graduates report a median $46,440 ten years after entry, $2,300 more than the $44,140 at University of Southern Mississippi. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Southern Mississippi or Belhaven University?
University of Southern Mississippi: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $26,333 at Belhaven University, a difference of $3,833. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at University of Southern Mississippi, against 49% at Belhaven University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.