The University of West Florida vs. Jackson State University

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

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
Location Pensacola, FL Jackson, MS
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,521 6,906
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #727 #961
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwf.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $4,319 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $16,587 $8,270
Room & Board $11,268 $10,445
Avg Net Price $8,609 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $11,515 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 84% 86%

Admission

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,113 12,583
Admitted 4,377 11,153
Acceptance Rate 48% 88.6%
Enrolled % 27% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 16/21
SAT Range 1050/1230 1073/1210
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 48% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $18,750 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $193 $299

Diversity

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
% Men 38% 33%
% Women 62% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 65% 4%
% Black 13% 92%
% Hispanic 9% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

The University of West Florida Jackson State University
% In-State 66% 27%
% Out-of-State 11% 72%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 6,906 students)

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

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

  • Jackson State University is 91.5% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($8,270.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 100.6% higher at The University of West Florida than Jackson State University ($16,587.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than Jackson State University ($8,609 vs. $15,292)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 7.9% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($10,445 vs. $11,268)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than The University of West Florida (86% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 32.4% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($11,515 vs. $8,694)

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

Which college is harder to get into, The University of West Florida 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 The University of West Florida .

  • The average SAT score at The University of West Florida (1053) is 143 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming The University of West Florida students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

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

Which is better, The University of West Florida 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 The University of West Florida.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than Jackson State University (48% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $8,400 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $32,800)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $10,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $29,000)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($193 vs. $299)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 36%)

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