Jacksonville State University vs. The University of West Florida

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

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
Location Jacksonville, AL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 9,632 13,521
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #946 #727
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsu.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $9,990 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $19,950 $16,587
Room & Board $8,640 $11,268
Avg Net Price $11,953 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $10,123 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 84%

Admission

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,570 9,113
Admitted 9,863 4,377
Acceptance Rate 78.5% 48%
Enrolled % 19.7% 27%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 21/27
SAT Range 940/1200 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Human Services (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate 32% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,000 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 39% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $240 $193

Diversity

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
% Men 40% 38%
% Women 60% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 70% 65%
% Black 22% 13%
% Hispanic 1% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
% In-State 72% 66%
% Out-of-State 25% 11%

Campus

Jacksonville State University The University of West Florida
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

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than Jacksonville State University based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 9,632 students)

Jacksonville State University vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jacksonville State University or The University of West Florida?

  • Jacksonville State University is 131.3% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($9,990.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.3% higher at Jacksonville State University than The University of West Florida ($19,950.00 vs. $16,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than Jacksonville State University ($8,609 vs. $11,953)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jacksonville State University are 30.4% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($8,640 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jacksonville State University than The University of West Florida (100% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 13.8% larger than aid received Jacksonville State University ($11,515 vs. $10,123)

Jacksonville State University vs. The University of West Florida Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Jacksonville State University (1062) is 9 points higher than at The University of West Florida (1053)
  • Incoming Jacksonville State University students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Jacksonville State University (3.43)
  • Jacksonville State University has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

Jacksonville State University vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jacksonville State University or The University of West Florida? 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 The University of West Florida and Jacksonville State University.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than Jacksonville State University (48% vs. 32%)
  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $4,200 more per year than Jacksonville State University graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $37,000)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jacksonville State University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $23,250)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Jacksonville State University graduates. ($193 vs. $240)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jacksonville State University students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 39%)

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