University of West Alabama vs. Jackson State University

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

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
Location Livingston, AL Jackson, MS
Setting Remote Rural Midsize City
Enrollment 6,194 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1007 #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwa.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $9,100 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $18,200 $8,815
Room & Board $8,166 $11,782
Avg Net Price $14,781 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $7,790 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,041 14,141
Admitted 1,778 12,873
Acceptance Rate 87.1% 91%
Enrolled % 17.7% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22 15/20
SAT Range 820/978 850/1080
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 Aug 10, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 28% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,500 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,489 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $273 $299

Diversity

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
% Men 13% 7%
% Women 44% 20%
Racial Diversity Very High Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 45% 4%
% Black 40% 92%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

University of West Alabama Jackson State University
% In-State 77% 30%
% Out-of-State 21% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than University of West Alabama based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 6,194 students)

University of West Alabama vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • University of West Alabama is 3.2% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($9,100.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 106.5% higher at University of West Alabama than Jackson State University ($18,200.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of West Alabama than Jackson State University ($14,781 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 44.3% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($8,166 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of West Alabama than Jackson State University (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 4.4% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($8,133 vs. $7,790)

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

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

  • The average SAT score at University of West Alabama (930) is 20 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming University of West Alabama students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman University of West Alabama students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.16) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than University of West Alabama (87.1%)

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

Which is better, University of West 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 West Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than University of West Alabama (40% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from University of West Alabama earn on average $5,700 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($38,500 vs. $32,800)
  • University of West Alabama students graduate with a $2,511 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($26,489 vs. $29,000)
  • University of West Alabama graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($273 vs. $299)
  • More University of West Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 36%)

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