The University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The University was established on March 30, 1910, and was originally known as Mississippi Normal College, a college for training teachers. Southern Miss has multiple teaching sites that include Stennis Space Center, Jackson County, Keesler Air Force Base, J.L.Scott Aquarium, Gulf Coast Research Lab, and Pontlevoy, France.

According to the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning , the University of Southern Missississippi is the second largest by enrollment of the three major Mississippi universities. Mississippi State University  ranks first in size, and Ole Miss  third. The university is home to a major polymer science research center .

Originally called the Southern Miss Southerners, in 1971 they became the Golden Eagles. The school participates in the NCAA's Division I-A, and Conference USA. Its best-known athletic alumnus is three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre.