Samford University vs. Jackson State University

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

Samford University Jackson State University
Location Birmingham, AL Jackson, MS
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 5,682 6,906
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #213 #961
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website samford.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Samford University Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $35,750 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $35,750 $8,270
Room & Board $11,264 $10,445
Avg Net Price $31,803 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $20,711 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 86%

Admission

Samford University Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,337 12,583
Admitted 3,611 11,153
Acceptance Rate 83.3% 88.6%
Enrolled % 27% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.1
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 16/21
SAT Range 1080/1270 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 May 1, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Samford University Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Work and Family Studies (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Samford University Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 70% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,400 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $299

Diversity

Samford University Jackson State University
% Men 32% 33%
% Women 68% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 81% 4%
% Black 7% 92%
% Hispanic 5% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Samford University Jackson State University
% In-State 25% 27%
% Out-of-State 74% 72%

Campus

Samford 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

  • Jackson State University is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (6,906 students vs. 5,682 students)

Samford University vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Samford University is 332.3% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($35,750.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 332.3% higher at Samford University than Jackson State University ($35,750.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jackson State University than Samford University ($15,292 vs. $31,803)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 7.8% lower than costs at Samford University ($10,445 vs. $11,264)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Samford University than Jackson State University (99% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Samford University students is 138.2% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($20,711 vs. $8,694)

Samford University vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Samford 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 Samford University .

  • The average SAT score at Samford University (1162) is 252 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Samford University students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Samford University students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Samford University (83.3%)

Samford University vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Samford 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 Samford University.

  • The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Jackson State University (70% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Samford University earn on average $24,600 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $32,800)
  • Samford University students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $29,000)
  • Samford University graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($232 vs. $299)
  • More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 36%)

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