University of Central Arkansas vs. Jackson State University

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

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
Location Conway, AR Jackson, MS
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 9,790 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #842 #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uca.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $7,140 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $14,280 $8,815
Room & Board $8,662 $11,782
Avg Net Price $16,362 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $8,280 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,589 14,141
Admitted 5,961 12,873
Acceptance Rate 90.5% 91%
Enrolled % 29.1% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.1
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 15/20
SAT Range 940/1120 850/1080
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

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 40% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,415 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $221 $299

Diversity

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
% Men 5% 7%
% Women 14% 20%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 66% 4%
% Black 18% 92%
% Hispanic 5% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 1%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

University of Central Arkansas Jackson State University
% In-State 90% 30%
% Out-of-State 8% 69%

Campus

University of Central Arkansas 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

  • University of Central Arkansas is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (9,790 students vs. 6,564 students)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Central Arkansas or Jackson State University?

  • Jackson State University is 23.5% more expensive to attend than University of Central Arkansas for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $7,140.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62% higher at University of Central Arkansas than Jackson State University ($14,280.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Arkansas than Jackson State University ($16,362 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 36% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($8,662 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Arkansas than Jackson State University (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Central Arkansas students is 1.8% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($8,280 vs. $8,133)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Central Arkansas 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 University of Central Arkansas .

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 158 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than University of Central Arkansas (90.5%)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Central Arkansas 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 University of Central Arkansas.

  • The graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas is the same as at Jackson State University (40% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Arkansas earn on average $8,000 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $32,800)
  • University of Central Arkansas students graduate with a $7,585 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($21,415 vs. $29,000)
  • University of Central Arkansas graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($221 vs. $299)
  • More University of Central Arkansas 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/