Henderson State University vs. Alcorn State University

Should I go to Henderson State University or Alcorn State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or Alcorn 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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Henderson State University vs. Alcorn State University comparison
Henderson State University Alcorn State University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Alcorn State University
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Overview

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
Location Arkadelphia, AR Alcorn State, MS
Setting Distant Town Distant Rural
Enrollment 2,519 2,933
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #997
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu alcorn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $7,869
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $7,869
Room & Board $9,558 $10,255
Avg Net Price $17,656 $14,864
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $10,386
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 6,748
Admitted 1,657 2,020
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 29.9%
Enrolled % 24.9% 24.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.2
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 16/21 15/24
SAT Range 903/1073 903/1115
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
Graduation Rate 31% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $33,600
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 34%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $201 $292

Diversity

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
% Men 40% 32%
% Women 60% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 66% 3%
% Black 24% 93%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Henderson State University Alcorn State University
% In-State 81% 70%
% Out-of-State 19% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Alcorn State University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (2,933 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. Alcorn State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Alcorn State University?

  • Alcorn State University is 33.8% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($7,869.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Henderson State University than Alcorn State University ($8,088.00 vs. $7,869.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alcorn State University than Henderson State University ($14,864 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 7.3% lower than costs at Alcorn State University ($9,558 vs. $10,255)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alcorn State University than Henderson State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alcorn State University students is 8.4% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($10,386 vs. $9,580)

Henderson State University vs. Alcorn State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is 117 points higher than at Alcorn State University (871)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Alcorn State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Henderson State University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Alcorn State University (3.2)
  • Henderson State University has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Alcorn State University (29.9%)

Henderson State University vs. Alcorn State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or Alcorn 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 Alcorn State University and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Alcorn State University is higher than Henderson State University (33% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Henderson State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Alcorn State University graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $33,600)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $8,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Alcorn State University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $28,250)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $91 less per month on federal student loans than Alcorn State University graduates. ($201 vs. $292)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alcorn State University students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 34%)

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