Jackson State University vs. UNK

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

Jackson State University UNK
Location Jackson, MS Kearney, NE
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 6,906 6,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #961 #571
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University UNK
Tuition (In State) $8,270 $6,220
Tuition (Out of State) $8,270 $12,036
Room & Board $10,445 $11,390
Avg Net Price $15,292 $16,564
Avg Grant Aid $8,694 $7,282
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 100%

Admission

Jackson State University UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,583 6,794
Admitted 11,153 5,842
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 86%
Enrolled % 10.1% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21 19/25
SAT Range 1073/1210 1000/1200
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 15, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University UNK
Graduation Rate 40% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $299 $219

Diversity

Jackson State University UNK
% Men 33% 34%
% Women 67% 66%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 79%
% Black 92% 2%
% Hispanic 0% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Jackson State University UNK
% In-State 27% 85%
% Out-of-State 72% 11%

Campus

Jackson State University UNK
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 UNK based on total student enrollment (6,906 students vs. 6,041 students)

Jackson State University vs. UNK Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 33% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($8,270.00 vs. $6,220.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.5% higher at UNK than Jackson State University ($12,036.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jackson State University than UNK ($15,292 vs. $16,564)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 9% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($10,445 vs. $11,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Jackson State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 19.4% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,694 vs. $7,282)

Jackson State University vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1049) is 139 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming UNK students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than UNK (86%)

Jackson State University vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Jackson State University (61% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $10,600 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $32,800)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $7,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($21,250 vs. $29,000)
  • UNK graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($219 vs. $299)
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 36%)

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