Jackson State University vs. NSU

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

Jackson State University NSU
Location Jackson, MS Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,564 6,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974 #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $8,815 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $8,815 $17,428
Room & Board $11,782 $11,692
Avg Net Price $19,892 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $8,133 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 97%

Admission

Jackson State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,141 10,211
Admitted 12,873 8,931
Acceptance Rate 91% 87.5%
Enrolled % 7.6% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 16/21
SAT Range 850/1080 840/1100
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 May 31, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University NSU
Graduation Rate 40% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $299 $320

Diversity

Jackson State University NSU
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 20% 5%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 4% 5%
% Black 92% 84%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Jackson State University NSU
% In-State 30% 65%
% Out-of-State 69% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 6,045 students)

Jackson State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 48.8% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 97.7% higher at NSU than Jackson State University ($17,428.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Jackson State University ($12,272 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 0.8% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($11,692 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than Jackson State University (97% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 37.1% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($11,153 vs. $8,133)

Jackson State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Jackson State University (910) is 102 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming Jackson State University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman Jackson State University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than NSU (87.5%)

Jackson State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than Norfolk State University (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Norfolk State University earn on average $3,900 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $32,800)
  • Jackson State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($29,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Jackson State University graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($299 vs. $320)
  • More Jackson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 27%)

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