University of South Alabama vs. Jackson State University

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

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
Location Mobile, AL Jackson, MS
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,438 6,906
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #961
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $8,270
Room & Board $8,510 $10,445
Avg Net Price $15,664 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 86%

Admission

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 12,583
Admitted 8,203 11,153
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 88.6%
Enrolled % 19.7% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 16/21
SAT Range 1003/1200 1073/1210
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 39% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $299

Diversity

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
% Men 32% 33%
% Women 68% 67%
Racial Diversity High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 59% 4%
% Black 24% 92%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

University of South Alabama Jackson State University
% In-State 73% 27%
% Out-of-State 25% 72%

Campus

University of South Alabama 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

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (13,438 students vs. 6,906 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Jackson State University?

  • University of South Alabama is 4.2% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($8,616.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 108.4% higher at University of South Alabama than Jackson State University ($17,232.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jackson State University than University of South Alabama ($15,292 vs. $15,664)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 22.7% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($8,510 vs. $10,445)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Alabama than Jackson State University (94% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 13.1% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($8,694 vs. $7,686)

University of South Alabama vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama 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 South Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at University of South Alabama (1045) is 135 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming University of South Alabama students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama 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 South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than University of South Alabama (40% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $12,400 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $32,800)
  • University of South Alabama students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($24,500 vs. $29,000)
  • University of South Alabama graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($253 vs. $299)
  • More University of South Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

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