Murray State University vs. Jackson State University

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

Murray State University Jackson State University
Location Murray, KY Jackson, MS
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 9,479 6,906
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #669 #961
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website murraystate.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Murray State University Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $8,196 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $17,652 $8,270
Room & Board $10,160 $10,445
Avg Net Price $11,042 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $11,560 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

Murray State University Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,251 12,583
Admitted 8,609 11,153
Acceptance Rate 84% 88.6%
Enrolled % 15.9% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 16/21
SAT Range 965/1190 1073/1210
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

Academics

Murray State University Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Murray State University Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 52% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $299

Diversity

Murray State University Jackson State University
% Men 37% 33%
% Women 63% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 81% 4%
% Black 8% 92%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Murray State University Jackson State University
% In-State 61% 27%
% Out-of-State 36% 72%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Murray State University is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (9,479 students vs. 6,906 students)

Murray State University vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 0.9% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($8,270.00 vs. $8,196.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 113.4% higher at Murray State University than Jackson State University ($17,652.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than Jackson State University ($11,042 vs. $15,292)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Murray State University are 2.8% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($10,160 vs. $10,445)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Murray State University than Jackson State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Murray State University students is 33% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($11,560 vs. $8,694)

Murray State University vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Murray State University 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 Murray State University .

  • The average SAT score at Murray State University (1069) is 159 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Murray State University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Murray State University students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Murray State University (84%)

Murray State University vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Murray State University 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 Murray State University.

  • The graduation rate at Murray State University is higher than Jackson State University (52% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Murray State University earn on average $7,600 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $32,800)
  • Murray State University students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $29,000)
  • Murray State University graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($222 vs. $299)
  • More Murray State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 36%)

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