McNeese vs. Jackson State University

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

McNeese Jackson State University
Location Lake Charles, LA Jackson, MS
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,060 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #882 #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcneese.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McNeese Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $5,147 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $6,647 $8,815
Room & Board $10,596 $11,782
Avg Net Price $11,393 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $9,409 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 92%

Admission

McNeese Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,294 14,141
Admitted 2,225 12,873
Acceptance Rate 67.5% 91%
Enrolled % 47.8% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 15/20
SAT Range 810/1120 850/1080
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

McNeese Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

McNeese Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 37% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,000 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,238 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $209 $299

Diversity

McNeese Jackson State University
% Men 2% 7%
% Women 6% 20%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 67% 4%
% Black 18% 92%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

McNeese Jackson State University
% In-State 85% 30%
% Out-of-State 10% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than McNeese based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 6,060 students)

McNeese vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 71.3% more expensive to attend than McNeese for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $5,147.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.6% higher at Jackson State University than McNeese State University ($8,815.00 vs. $6,647.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at McNeese State University than Jackson State University ($11,393 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McNeese State University are 11.2% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($10,596 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than McNeese State University (92% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McNeese State University students is 15.7% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($9,409 vs. $8,133)

McNeese vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at McNeese State University (1029) is 119 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming McNeese students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman McNeese students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than McNeese (67.5%)

McNeese vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McNeese or Jackson 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 Jackson State University and McNeese.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than McNeese State University (40% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from McNeese State University earn on average $11,200 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $32,800)
  • McNeese State University students graduate with a $8,762 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($20,238 vs. $29,000)
  • McNeese graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($209 vs. $299)
  • More McNeese graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 36%)

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