The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering has seen a significant rise in its U.S. News & World Report rankings, jumping an impressive 58 spots from 199th in 2024 to 141st in 2025. This leap has solidified the program’s reputation as one of the most reputable in the country.
Derek Patton, the director of the USM program, attributes this success to the exceptional quality and impact of the school nationally. He believes that this recognition will help attract and retain top talent to the faculty and recruit students into their academic degree programs, including Ph.D. and ABET accredited undergraduate programs.
Katie Anthony, the Dean of USM’s Graduate School, is thrilled about the recognition and resilience of the program. She highlights the research activity of their graduate students and their success in professional development award opportunities provided by the Graduate School.
The program’s research has far-reaching impacts on advanced materials, environmental sustainability, and biomedical applications. USM researchers have made significant advancements in converting waste plastics into advanced carbon-based materials, engineering degradable polymers for sustainable polymer composites, creating high-performance materials for warfighter protection, and developing composite materials for urban air mobility, among other achievements.
While USM has made impressive strides in the rankings, other universities in Mississippi also have notable graduate engineering programs. The University of Mississippi and Jackson State University rank 170th and 180th-199th, respectively. However, Mississippi State University surpasses USM with the best graduate engineering program in the state, ranking 80th nationally.
Overall, the rise in rankings for the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering showcases the program’s dedication to excellence and innovation in the field of engineering.