Bowie State University vs. Jackson State University

Should I go to Bowie State University or Jackson State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University or Jackson State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bowie State University vs. Jackson State University comparison
Bowie State University Jackson State University College 3 College 4
Bowie State University Jackson State University
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Overview

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Location Bowie, MD Jackson, MS
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,408 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943 #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $5,993 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $16,883 $8,815
Room & Board $13,272 $11,782
Avg Net Price $16,117 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $8,730 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 92%

Admission

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,245 14,141
Admitted 5,217 12,873
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 91%
Enrolled % 19% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 796/1083 850/1080
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 41% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $299

Diversity

Bowie State University Jackson State University
% Men 5% 7%
% Women 12% 20%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 3% 4%
% Black 86% 92%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Bowie State University Jackson State University
% In-State 78% 30%
% Out-of-State 19% 69%

Campus

Bowie State University Jackson State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 6,408 students)

Bowie State University vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Jackson State University?

  • Jackson State University is 47.1% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $5,993.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 91.5% higher at Bowie State University than Jackson State University ($16,883.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Jackson State University ($16,117 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 12.6% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,782 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than Bowie State University (92% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 7.3% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($8,730 vs. $8,133)

Bowie State University vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowie State University or Jackson State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jackson State University or Bowie State University .

  • The average SAT score at Jackson State University (910) is 27 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Jackson State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than Bowie State University (83.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Jackson State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Jackson State University and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Jackson State University (41% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $17,700 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $32,800)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $4,609 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($24,391 vs. $29,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($252 vs. $299)
  • More Jackson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 29%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/