Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, Mississippi · Public · 45.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 16/100 · Poor Value
Alcorn State University, an 1890 land-grant HBCU in southwest Mississippi, scores 16 -- Poor Value tier. The numbers are sobering: median earnings six years after entry are $26,900, ten-year earnings $36,421, against $27,000 in median debt for a 1.004 debt-to-earnings ratio. The payback period reads 135.9 years -- the scorecard's way of saying earnings never recoup full cost. Repayment is the weakest sub-score: only 54.1% of borrowers are paying down principal at three years (sub-score 11). In-state tuition is $8,785 (PR-flagship low) but net price is $13,265 -- net price exceeds tuition because non-tuition costs dominate. Four-year total cost is $53,060. The one bright spot is completion at 57.4% (sub-score 55) -- among the higher rates for an HBCU serving a high-need population (Pell rate 69.8%). The strongest counter-signal is the nursing program: 36 graduates earning $85K in year one (a B+ A-adjacent ROI). Outside nursing, the broader program lineup faces tough earnings/debt math reflecting the rural Mississippi labor market. This is mission-critical access education whose financial math is genuinely difficult.
The data raises concerns about Alcorn State University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score16/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.00 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Alcorn State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,785/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $8,785/yr |
| Average net price | $13,265/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,060 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,421 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,363 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Alcorn State University is $8,785/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $13,265/year, or roughly $53,060 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,613/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,620/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $36,421 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.00 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,613 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,344 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,296 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,244 |
| $110,001+ | $17,620 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,613 net -- close to the average. Four-year cost is around $50,500, against $36,421 in 10-year median earnings. The math is hard: four-year cost exceeds 10-year earnings by ~$14K. The Pell-heavy student body still faces substantial unmet need; many graduates carry debt that exceeds annual earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $16,296 net, with four-year cost roughly $65,200. Brackets march upward but somewhat unevenly: the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $12,344, actually slightly below the under-$30K bracket's $12,613 -- a mild inversion. Four-year cost at middle-income lands well above 10-year earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $18,244, and $110,000+ pays $17,620 -- a slight inversion at the top, where higher earners pay less than upper-middle. Likely sample variance given small high-income enrollment at an HBCU. Four-year cost at the top tier is around $70,500; financial math is upside-down regardless of income.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Alcorn State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $40,379 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,321 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $39,841 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $93,159 | B+ |
| Social Work | $46,157 | C |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $62,499 | C |
| Psychology | $35,015 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $41,908 | D |
| Agriculture, General | $37,771 | D |
| Accounting | $27,472 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Alcorn's clear standout: 36 graduates earning $85,255 in year one and $93,159 by year four against $28,100 debt -- a 0.330 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ grade. Strong placement at Mississippi Delta and Baton Rouge healthcare systems plus federal hospital corps roles drives the outcomes. This program quietly outperforms most flagship state-university nursing programs on cost-adjusted value. The lone defensible ROI track at the school.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the second-largest program at 48 graduates earning $29,482 in year one and $39,841 by year four against $27,954 debt -- a 0.948 ratio and D grade. The rural-Mississippi business labor market caps earnings sharply; debt is at the federal-loan limit. Graduates working in regional banking, retail management, and small-business administration face stagnant wages.
Biology
Biology is the largest single program at 108 graduates earning $27,607 in year one and $40,379 by year four against $30,500 debt -- a 1.105 debt-to-earnings ratio and F grade. Most graduates appear to be pre-med/pre-health feeders; bachelor's-only outcomes are weak. The high debt for a feeder degree is a major concern. Students should plan for graduate school continuation.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business is one of the few non-nursing programs with solid outcomes: 25 graduates earning $44,330 in year one and $62,499 by year four against $25,125 debt (0.567 ratio, C grade). Alcorn's land-grant agricultural heritage shows here -- graduates feed Mississippi Delta agribusiness, USDA extension, and federal agricultural employment effectively.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts produces 52 graduates earning $26,269 in year one and $42,321 by year four against $39,250 debt -- a 1.494 debt-to-earnings ratio and F grade. The highest debt load in the school against modest earnings creates the worst ROI combination. This is a degree-completion track that loads substantial debt without a clear career-track payoff.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 46.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 54.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 36.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 35.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 270-485 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 400-513 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-19 |
| Enrollment | 2,363 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 69.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,235 |
Alcorn admits 45.3% of applicants -- moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges (Math 270-485, Reading 400-513) and ACT 15-19 reflect a student body arriving with significant academic preparation gaps; the 25th-percentile SAT Math of 270 is among the lowest reported. The 57.4% completion rate is actually solid given that profile -- Alcorn does meaningful persistence work with the students it admits. Selectivity here is a quality-of-fit signal more than a gatekeeping function.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Alcorn's peer set is well-targeted: Delta State (MS regional public), Jackson State (MS HBCU and the closest direct comparator), Shawnee State (OH), Maine-Augusta, and Western New Mexico. Among Mississippi peers, Jackson State has higher enrollment and somewhat stronger outcomes; Delta State is similar in scale and ROI band. Alcorn's nursing program outperforms most of these peers materially, while the broader program lineup tracks similarly. The 16 score reflects the rural-Mississippi wage ceiling more than institutional quality.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn State University (this school) | 16 | $13,265 | $36,421 |
| Delta State University | 29 | $13,540 | $41,991 |
| Shawnee State University | 18 | $14,381 | $39,596 |
| Western New Mexico University | 17 | $8,522 | $39,095 |
| University of Maine at Augusta | 15 | $10,924 | $40,342 |
| Jackson State University | 14 | $23,836 | $39,060 |
Who Thrives Here
Alcorn fits Mississippi students -- especially Black students drawn to the HBCU mission -- aiming at nursing, agricultural business, social work, education, and public-service careers. Pell rate of 69.8% indicates a very high-need student body; enrollment of 2,363 supports a small-mid HBCU environment. Strong fit for students seeking the cultural and academic community of an HBCU with reasonable tuition. The nursing pipeline is genuinely exceptional; agricultural-business is solid. Other tracks face significant rural-Mississippi labor-market constraints.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Alcorn State University. With a net cost of $13,265 per year and median graduate earnings of only $36,421 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $36,421 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.