Jackson State University
Jackson, Mississippi · Public · 93.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 14/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Jackson State University earns the Below Benchmark tier with an ROI score of just 14 out of 100. The Jackson, Mississippi flagship HBCU posts an in-state tuition of $8,965 (out-of-state $11,965), but the average net price is $23,836 annually because room, board, fees, and high-need student aid math push the all-in cost well past tuition. Four-year cost-of-attendance lands at $95,344, which is the structural problem here. The headline failure metric is a 58-year payback period: average 6-year earnings of $27,800 simply don't recoup the cost in any reasonable working-life horizon. Median debt of $30,470 against those earnings produces a 1.096 debt-to-earnings ratio, with graduates owing more than they earn in their first year out. The 50.9% completion rate is mediocre and the 51.6% three-year repayment rate is weaker still. Bright spots exist in computer science (B grade) and engineering, but the broader academic catalog produces F grades for most majors. JSU plays an important historical and community role; the financial outcomes data does not flatter that role.
How Jackson State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score14/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.10 - Median debt is larger than one year of average earnings six years after entry (a ratio above 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
Jackson State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,965/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $11,965/yr |
| Average net price | $23,836/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $95,344 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,060 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $30,470 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $323 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,600 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,965/year ($11,965/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $23,836/year, or roughly $95,344 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,869/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,576/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $30,470, which works out to about $323 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($27,800) and comes to 1.10, 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings.
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 | $22,869 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,516 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,236 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,388 |
| $110,001+ | $27,576 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30K pay $22,869 net annually, while $30,001-48,000 households pay $22,516. That four-year burden of roughly $90K is a tough match for $27,800 expected early-career earnings. Heavily Pell-eligible students should explore Mississippi state grant programs and consider community college transfer paths first.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $26,236 to $26,388 net annually, putting four-year costs near $105K. With 6-year earnings of $27,800, this bracket faces the most concerning debt-to-earnings outcomes: aid drops off sharply but earnings don't differentiate, producing the 1.096 institutional debt-to-earnings ratio.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $27,576 net per year, or $110,304 over four years. At that price for a 6-year average income of $27,800, the case for paying full price is essentially nonexistent.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Jackson State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $38,027 | F |
| Social Work | $41,566 | F |
| Education, Other | $36,481 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,799 | F |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $45,308 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,246 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,472 | F |
| Psychology | $44,881 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $40,365 | F |
| Accounting | $59,996 | D |
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.
Computer Science
Computer Science is JSU's standout program with first-year median earnings of $70,347 climbing to $90,577 by year four. With $28,001 median debt, the 0.398 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B ROI grade, the highest at the institution. Graduate count is not reported. JSU's CS program benefits from federal HBCU STEM partnerships and corporate diversity recruiting, making it the strongest financial choice on campus.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering posts 22 graduates per year with first-year earnings of $51,570 climbing aggressively to $89,702 by year four. With $27,000 median debt, the 0.524 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C+ ROI grade. The four-year earnings trajectory is unusually steep, suggesting strong professional progression for graduates who enter the field.
Biology
Biology is JSU's largest major at 99 graduates per year, but the ROI math is severe. First-year median earnings of $25,354 against $29,000 median debt produces a 1.144 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Year-four earnings of $38,027 show modest recovery but never reach the threshold for sustainable repayment. Pre-health students need a clear graduate or professional school plan; otherwise this major is high financial risk at JSU.
Social Work
Social Work has 62 graduates per year and produces among the worst payback math on campus: $26,873 first-year earnings against $36,403 median debt creates a 1.355 debt-to-earnings ratio and F ROI grade. Year-four earnings of $41,566 show some recovery, but social work compensation in Mississippi remains structurally low. PSLF eligibility for nonprofit and government employers is essential to make this debt manageable.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (general) posts 26 graduates per year with first-year earnings of $40,448 climbing to $56,747 by year four. The $31,000 median debt produces a 0.766 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Mississippi public-school teacher salaries constrain payback even with the modest debt. PSLF and state teacher loan forgiveness programs are critical for this cohort.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 48.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 51.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 40.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 42.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Jackson State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 390-520 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-550 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-20 |
| Enrollment | 4,600 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 72.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,988 |
Jackson State admits 93.2% of applicants, functioning as effectively open-admission for in-state Mississippi students. The middle 50% SAT range is 390-520 in math and 430-550 in reading, with an ACT range of 15-20.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson State University (this school) | 14 | $23,836 | $39,060 |
| Oakwood University | 14 | $25,669 | $42,488 |
| Albany State University | 14 | $11,898 | $40,674 |
| Clark Atlanta University | 14 | $37,702 | $42,712 |
| Wilberforce University | 14 | $5,567 | $38,298 |
| Fisk University | 14 | $32,020 | $45,454 |
Who Thrives Here
Jackson State fits in-state Mississippi students drawn to its HBCU mission and community, with 4,600 enrolled and a striking 72.3% Pell rate that signals the institution serves a heavily working-class and lower-income population. Outcomes look strong specifically for computer science and engineering students who complete; the 50.9% completion rate means roughly half of entrants don't finish, and those non-completers leave with debt and no degree. Best fit for STEM-focused students with clear academic preparation; high risk for undecided or underprepared students.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Jackson State University scores 14/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $23,836 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $39,060 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 50.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 51.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $30,470 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $27,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Jackson State University: Common Questions
Is Jackson State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Jackson State University scores 14/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $23,836 a year after aid against $39,060 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Jackson State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $23,836 a year, or roughly $95,344 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Jackson State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $39,060 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Jackson State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at more than 50 years for Jackson State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Jackson State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $30,470, against average earnings of $27,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so how much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Jackson State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 50.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.