Jackson State University vs. South Carolina State University

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

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
Location Jackson, MS Orangeburg, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,564 3,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974 #1011
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu scsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
Tuition (In State) $8,815 $9,528
Tuition (Out of State) $8,815 $20,218
Room & Board $11,782 $9,000
Avg Net Price $19,892 $17,928
Avg Grant Aid $8,133 $12,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 94%

Admission

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,141 9,830
Admitted 12,873 8,034
Acceptance Rate 91% 81.7%
Enrolled % 7.6% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.17
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 15/19
SAT Range 850/1080 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
Graduation Rate 40% 35%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $33,205
Median Loan Payment $299 $343

Diversity

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 20% 6%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Extremely Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 4% 2%
% Black 92% 96%
% Hispanic 0% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Jackson State University South Carolina State University
% In-State 30% 73%
% Out-of-State 69% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than South Carolina State University based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 3,041 students)

Jackson State University vs. South Carolina State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jackson State University or South Carolina State University?

  • South Carolina State University is 8.1% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($9,528.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 129.4% higher at South Carolina State University than Jackson State University ($20,218.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at South Carolina State University than Jackson State University ($17,928 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Carolina State University are 30.9% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($9,000 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at South Carolina State University than Jackson State University (94% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by South Carolina State University students is 49.1% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($12,130 vs. $8,133)

Jackson State University vs. South Carolina State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Jackson State University (910) is 150 points higher than at South Carolina State University (760)
  • Incoming Jackson State University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at South Carolina State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman South Carolina State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than South Carolina State University (81.7%)

Jackson State University vs. South Carolina State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jackson State University or South Carolina 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 South Carolina State University and Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than South Carolina State University (40% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Jackson State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than South Carolina State University graduates after ten years. ($32,800 vs. $31,000)
  • Jackson State University students graduate with a $4,205 lower median federal student loan debt than South Carolina State University graduates. ($29,000 vs. $33,205)
  • Jackson State University graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than South Carolina State University graduates. ($299 vs. $343)
  • More Jackson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Carolina State University 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/