Head-to-head comparison
University of Southern Mississippi vs Copiah-Lincoln Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Hattiesburg, MS
University of Southern Mississippi
- Net price / year
- $21,708
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,140
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Wesson, MS
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,894
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,241
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Southern Mississippi comes closer — median earnings $44,140 against a $86,832 total, vs $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Southern Mississippi | Copiah-Lincoln Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,708 | $3,894 |
| Total net cost | $86,832 | $7,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,140 | $31,241 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $7,435 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$171,232 | -$350,168 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Southern Mississippi or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College, at $3,894 a year after aid versus $21,708 — a gap of $17,814 a year, or $79,044 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Southern Mississippi or Copiah-Lincoln Community College graduates earn more?
University of Southern Mississippi graduates report a median $44,140 ten years after entry, $12,899 more than the $31,241 at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Southern Mississippi or Copiah-Lincoln Community College?
Copiah-Lincoln Community College: its completers carry a median $7,435 in federal loans versus $22,500 at University of Southern Mississippi, a difference of $15,065. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, against 49% at University of Southern Mississippi. 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.