University of Southern Mississippi

What University of Southern Mississippi does

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a public, Carnegie-classified research university founded in 1910 and headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with a second campus at Gulf Park in Long Beach. It serves traditional undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and international students, alongside non-traditional learners through fully-online degree programs in business, healthcare, technology, education, and liberal arts disciplines. Beyond degree conferral, USM operates specialized centers including the Institute for Disability Studies (Mississippi's UCEDD for 50 years), the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, and the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise on the Gulf Coast.

USM's underlying technology stack is conventional higher-ed infrastructure — Canvas LMS for online course delivery, Microsoft 365 for productivity, SOAR for student records, and Parchment for credential exchange — supplemented by integrations with Turnitin, ProctorU, and multi-factor authentication via Microsoft Authenticator. Proprietary differentiation sits in domain-specific research facilities: a 93,000-square-foot Life Sciences Research Center under construction, maritime acoustic sensing platforms integrated with autonomous surface vessels, and an aquaponics demonstration exhibit housed in a retrofitted shipping container.

The institution's revenue model combines recurring state appropriations (Mississippi), subscription-style tuition and fees (including online program tuition and per-exam proctoring fees), and grant/contract funding from federal agencies (NHLBI, NIMHD, ONR, USDA) and private foundations (Research Corporation, Sloan, Kavli). Its go-to-market is hybrid: enrollment coaches and campus visits for prospective students, cohort-based accelerators (Gulf Blue Navigator) for blue-tech startups, and strategic workforce-pipeline partnerships with healthcare systems (Forrest Health Scholars) and state agencies (Mississippi Department of Education Teacher Apprenticeships).

Name

University of Southern Mississippi

Legal name

The University of Southern Mississippi

Website

https://usm.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The University of Southern Mississippi is a Carnegie-classified public research university in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, MS, serving undergraduate, graduate, and online students across multiple disciplines while operating specialized research centers in marine aquaculture, ocean enterprise, disability studies, and life sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI), Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Online degree programs
• Research university
• Marine aquaculture research
• Disability studies services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hattiesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs including online and distance learning options, supplemented by various student fees including ID cards, proctoring, and course materials.
2. State Funding: Public university receives state appropriations from Mississippi for educational operations, with $87.5 million state investment in new research facility.
3. Federal Research Grants and Contracts: $14.5 million federal contract for Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center; $10.6 million contract modification for Intelligent Autonomous Systems for Seabed Warfare program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degree programs through on-campus instruction at Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses and fully online programs via Canvas LMS. It conducts federally funded research in marine aquaculture, ocean enterprise/autonomous systems, polymer science, and cardiovascular health, and operates specialized service and training centers such as the Institute for Disability Studies (UCEDD), Forrest Health Scholars nursing clinical pipeline, and the Gulf Blue Navigator startup accelerator.

Product overview

The University of Southern Mississippi is a public research university offering educational services rather than commercial technology products. Its primary technology offerings include the Canvas Learning Management System for online course delivery, the SOAR student portal for academic records, and various support services through iTech. The institution provides fully-online undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple disciplines. Research infrastructure includes the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), and a new 93,000 square foot Life Sciences Research Center under construction. Student support services include transcript ordering via Parchment, proctoring services through ProctorU and campus testing centers, and technology support through the iTech Help Desk. The IDS has established an AI Policy framework for responsible AI use in disability services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Degree Programs Fully-online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, healthcare, technology, education, and liberal arts disciplines, delivered via Canvas LMS with enrollment coach support. Designed for students needing flexible, affordable higher education without relocating.
• On-Campus Degree Programs (Hattiesburg and Gulf Park) Traditional undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs offered at USM's Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses, including engineering, business, nursing, education, and polymer science programs. Students enroll via the SOAR portal and attend in person.
• Teacher Apprenticeship Center Mississippi's first IHL-designated Center for Teacher Apprenticeships, allowing participants to complete two years of paid on-the-job training while earning a teaching degree. Targets the state's approximately 3,000 open teaching positions.
• Forrest Health Scholars Nursing Program College of Nursing and Health Professions clinical training partnership with Forrest Health (Forrest General Hospital) that places nursing students in Dedicated Education Units for emergency room and intensive care unit preceptorship hours, addressing regional nursing workforce shortages.
• Gulf Blue Navigator Startup Accelerator (Cohort 4) Four-month startup accelerator for blue-tech companies operating along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, providing cohort-based programming, field testing, and industry collaboration including Navy and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center access.
• Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center Two-year graduate training program funded by NHLBI and NIMHD that trains 10 graduate students annually in cardiovascular and public health research, supporting the Jackson Heart Study's focus on cardiovascular disease among African Americans.
• Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) Programs IDS provides interdisciplinary education, training, technical assistance, community services, research, and information dissemination for Mississippians with developmental and other disabilities across the lifespan, including the EARN IT entrepreneurship program for young adults.
• Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Initiative Marine aquaculture research, education, and community-engagement initiative operated through the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, including the 'Aquaponics in Action' exhibit and Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture research with native Gulf species.
• Proctoring Services (ProctorU and on-site) Exam proctoring services for online and on-campus courses, delivered via ProctorU virtual proctoring ($19.80 first hour, $11 each additional hour) and physical testing centers at Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses ($10/exam for USM students, $20/exam for non-USM students).
• Official Transcript Services (Parchment) Official transcript ordering and delivery via Parchment credential exchange, supporting electronic, paper pick-up, and mailed delivery options with fees varying by delivery method.
• iTech Help Desk Central technology service desk providing troubleshooting and support for hardware and software used by USM students, faculty, and staff (Canvas, Microsoft 365, SOAR, etc.).

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 nursing students in first Forrest Health Scholars cohort starting fall 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Forrest HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Partnership between University of Southern Mississippi's College of Nursing and Health Professions and Forrest Health to launch Forrest Health Scholars program. First cohort begins fall 2026 with nursing students working in Dedicated Education Units at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg for emergency room and intensive care unit preceptorship hours. Partnership aims to address regional healthcare workforce needs by combining academic education with hands-on clinical training.
• Gulf Offshore Research InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2026Five-year, $20 million research and demonstration program to repurpose idle offshore oil and gas platforms for green hydrogen production, open ocean aquaculture, critical mineral harvesting, and ocean monitoring. Includes USM as one of multiple university partners. Grant from Gulf Research Program at National Academies targets operational results at five platforms by 2030.
• Integer TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Integer Technologies opened office at USM's Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise in Gulfport for developing operational decision-support tools for autonomous systems in complex undersea environments. Ribbon-cutting attended by U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith. Follows $10.6 million contract modification bringing total ONR contract value to $24.8 million for Intelligent Autonomous Systems for Seabed Warfare program.
• University of MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Collaborated with USM on Gulf Coast acoustic demonstration bringing together research partners for multidomain maritime sensing technologies on autonomous platforms.
• Hyperion Technology GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 January 2026Industry partner in Gulf Coast acoustic demonstration providing advanced acoustic sensors integrated with autonomous surface vessel for real-world maritime environment testing.
• Institute for Disability Studies (IDS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2026USM business students developed branding recommendations for EARN IT entrepreneurship program for young adults with disabilities, preparing high schoolers for workforce success in coffee roasting, auto mechanics, and graphic design industries.
• Lynn Meadows Discovery CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Collaboration with Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Symbiotic LLC, and GULF BLUE Initiative to unveil aquaponics education exhibit 'Aquaponics in Action' at the Discovery Center. USM's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center provides expertise for the exhibit housed in a retrofitted shipping container demonstrating sustainable food production.
• Symbiotic LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Partner in aquaponics education exhibit project providing technical expertise for the sustainable food production demonstration system showing symbiotic fish and plant growth.
• GULF BLUE InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Partner in Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Initiative providing funding and support for aquaponics education exhibit as part of workforce development and community engagement along the Gulf Coast.
• Jackson State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Co-funder of Cohort 4 of Gulf Blue Navigator Program, USM's four-month startup accelerator for blue-tech companies beginning January 2026. Connects startups with partners including U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute on Minority Health and Health DisparitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025$14.5 million federal contract to establish Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center to train 10 graduate students annually in cardiovascular and public health research. Supports Jackson Heart Study, largest community-based investigation of cardiovascular disease among African Americans.
• Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2025Promotional partnership featuring USM school colors black and gold on MDAC's 2025 Bureau of Regulatory Services inspection stickers distributed statewide to promote Mississippi universities.
• Dauphin Island Sea LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine aquaculture research partner in Alabama focused on Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture with native Gulf species (red drum, oysters, seaweed). USM's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center participates in related demonstration initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• University of South Alabama: Nearby Gulf Coast public research university with overlapping marine and health science research, including partnership with Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Geographic neighbor competing for ocean-enterprise and biomedical grants.

Broad incumbents

• Louisiana State University: Larger R1 public university in neighboring Louisiana with a comprehensive medical, ocean, and coastal-research portfolio. Broad incumbent across USM's research categories, scaling across a wider institutional base.
• Auburn University: Large Southeastern R1 university comparable on engineering (ABET), business (AACSB), and nursing accreditations; incumbent competitor for biomedical and polymer science grants with substantially larger research base.
• University of Alabama: Flagship R1 public university in neighboring Alabama with substantially larger research enterprise and endowment; broader incumbent across nursing, polymer, and ocean research, drawing some Mississippi students out-of-state.
• Tulane University: Private R1 research university in New Orleans with deep Gulf Coast research ties, especially in ocean/coastal science and public health. A broader, better-endowed incumbent that competes for the same Gulf-related federal contracts.

Direct peers

• Jackson State University: Mississippi's largest HBCU and direct competitor for state funding and students; co-funds the Gulf Blue Navigator Program with USM, illustrating both overlap and partnership in blue-tech workforce development.
• Mississippi State University: Mississippi's largest public research university and fellow Carnegie R1, with similar nursing/education research programs, online offerings, and competing for the same state appropriations pool. The most directly comparable institution in-state.
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss): Sister public research university in Mississippi, jointly collaborating with USM on Gulf Coast acoustic demonstrations and competing for federal and state research dollars, particularly in health and ocean sciences.
• Troy University: Regional public university with extensive online-degree infrastructure (often regarded as a national leader in online higher education) and similar student demographics in the Southeast. Strong direct competitor for USM's online programs.

Others

• Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Marine science research and education facility on the Alabama Gulf Coast that already partners with USM's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center on integrated multitrophic aquaculture. An ecosystem participant and indirect peer in coastal marine research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/southernmiss
• YouTubeyoutube.com/southernmiss
• Facebookfacebook.com/35423931911
• Instagraminstagram.com/officialsouthernmiss
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-southern-mississippi

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Southern Mississippi