Jackson State University vs. Mississippi State

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

Jackson State University Mississippi State
Location Jackson, MS Mississippi State, MS
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,906 22,649
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #961 #523
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $8,270 $9,248
Tuition (Out of State) $8,270 $25,294
Room & Board $10,445 $10,964
Avg Net Price $15,292 $15,364
Avg Grant Aid $8,694 $14,252
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 98%

Admission

Jackson State University Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,583 18,830
Admitted 11,153 14,158
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 75.2%
Enrolled % 10.1% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.58
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21 21/29
SAT Range 1073/1210 1070/1280
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 Jul 15, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 40% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $299 $240

Diversity

Jackson State University Mississippi State
% Men 33% 49%
% Women 67% 51%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 72%
% Black 92% 20%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Jackson State University Mississippi State
% In-State 27% 59%
% Out-of-State 72% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 6,906 students)

Jackson State University vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

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

  • Mississippi State University is 11.8% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($9,248.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 205.9% higher at Mississippi State than Jackson State University ($25,294.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jackson State University than Mississippi State ($15,292 vs. $15,364)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 5% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($10,445 vs. $10,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than Jackson State University (98% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mississippi State University students is 63.9% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($14,252 vs. $8,694)

Jackson State University vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 230 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Mississippi State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Mississippi State students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Mississippi State (75.2%)

Jackson State University vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jackson State University or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Mississippi State is higher than Jackson State University (60% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $14,700 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $32,800)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $5,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $29,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $59 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($240 vs. $299)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 36%)

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