University of Southern Maine vs. Jackson State University

Should I go to University of Southern Maine or Jackson State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Southern Maine 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
University of Southern Maine vs. Jackson State University comparison
University of Southern Maine Jackson State University College 3 College 4
University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Location Portland, ME Jackson, MS
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,583 6,906
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #757 #961
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website maine.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $8,064 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $22,680 $8,270
Room & Board $10,924 $10,445
Avg Net Price $12,343 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $9,668 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 86%

Admission

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,544 12,583
Admitted 4,736 11,153
Acceptance Rate 85.4% 88.6%
Enrolled % 15.9% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 16/21
SAT Range 998/1220 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

Academics

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 33% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $299

Diversity

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
% Men 37% 33%
% Women 63% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 82% 4%
% Black 4% 92%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

University of Southern Maine Jackson State University
% In-State 72% 27%
% Out-of-State 27% 72%

Campus

University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (7,583 students vs. 6,906 students)

University of Southern Maine vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Maine or Jackson State University?

  • Jackson State University is 2.6% more expensive to attend than University of Southern Maine for in-state tuition ($8,270.00 vs. $8,064.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 174.2% higher at University of Southern Maine than Jackson State University ($22,680.00 vs. $8,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Maine than Jackson State University ($12,343 vs. $15,292)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 4.6% lower than costs at University of Southern Maine ($10,445 vs. $10,924)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Maine than Jackson State University (96% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Maine students is 11.2% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($9,668 vs. $8,694)

University of Southern Maine vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine .

  • The average SAT score at University of Southern Maine (984) is 74 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming University of Southern Maine students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Maine students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than University of Southern Maine (85.4%)

University of Southern Maine vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than University of Southern Maine (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Maine earn on average $9,800 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $32,800)
  • University of Southern Maine students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $29,000)
  • University of Southern Maine graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($232 vs. $299)
  • More University of Southern Maine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 36%)

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