Pensacola State vs. Jackson State University

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

Pensacola State Jackson State University
Location Pensacola, FL Jackson, MS
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 8,518 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pensacolastate.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Pensacola State Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $1,871 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $7,483 $8,815
Room & Board $10,226 $11,782
Avg Net Price $3,436 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $6,614 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 92%

Admission

Pensacola State Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 14,141
Admitted - 12,873
Acceptance Rate Open 91%
Enrolled % Open 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.54 3.1
Typical High School Grades C+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 850/1080
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2026 Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Pensacola State Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 23:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Engineering Technology (3%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Pensacola State Jackson State University
Graduation Rate - 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,300 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $3,500 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $36 $299

Diversity

Pensacola State Jackson State University
% Men 9% 7%
% Women 12% 20%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 66% 4%
% Black 16% 92%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Pensacola State Jackson State University
% In-State 91% 30%
% Out-of-State 4% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pensacola State College is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (8,518 students vs. 6,564 students)

Pensacola State vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 371.1% more expensive to attend than Pensacola State for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $1,871.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at Jackson State University than Pensacola State College ($8,815.00 vs. $7,483.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pensacola State College than Jackson State University ($3,436 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pensacola State College are 15.2% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($10,226 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than Pensacola State College (92% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 23% larger than aid received Pensacola State College ($8,133 vs. $6,614)

Which college is harder to get into, Pensacola State 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 Pensacola State .

  • Accepted freshman Jackson State University students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Pensacola State (2.54)

Pensacola State vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pensacola State 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 Pensacola State.

  • Graduates from Jackson State University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Pensacola State graduates after ten years. ($32,800 vs. $30,300)
  • Pensacola State College students graduate with a $25,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($3,500 vs. $29,000)
  • Pensacola State graduates are paying $263 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($36 vs. $299)
  • More Pensacola State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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