Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama · Public · 77.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 32/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Jacksonville State University scores 32 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. The 19.3-year payback period and 57.5% loan repayment rate are the worst signals. Average 6-year earnings are $31,800 - low even against a net price of $14,279 for in-state students. The 54.7% completion rate means roughly half of enrollees do not earn a degree. Nursing is the clear outlier: 240 graduates, $68,896 year-one, $83,984 year-four, ROI grade B+ (debt-to-earnings 0.312) - this is a strong program at low cost. Computer and Information Sciences (31 graduates, B grade) and Finance (35 graduates, B grade, low debt) also perform better than the aggregate. The bulk of the institution's programs - Criminal Justice, Psychology, Health Sciences, Fine Arts - carry D or F grades. The repayment rate of 57.5% at year three is a serious signal: nearly half of borrowers are behind on repayment three years post-enrollment. JSU is a regional public university in northeastern Alabama serving a predominantly in-state population, with 42.6% Pell grant recipients. The core ROI concern is that most programs produce earnings that cannot reliably support the debt load graduates carry.
How Jacksonville 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 Score32/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period19.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Jacksonville State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,894/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,334/yr |
| Average net price | $14,279/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,116 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,235 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,189 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $235 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,036 |
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: $12,894/year ($23,334/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 $14,279/year, or roughly $57,116 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 $12,472/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,183/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,189, which works out to about $235 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,800) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than 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 | $12,472 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,622 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,343 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,480 |
| $110,001+ | $18,183 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,472 net price per year at JSU - a low figure that reflects Pell grants and state aid working together for the highest-need students. Total 4-year cost near $50,000 is affordable in absolute terms, but only if students complete. For lower-income students who borrow and do not graduate, even this cost creates unmanageable debt against earnings that never materialize. The 54.7% completion rate is the primary risk factor for this population.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $15,343 (48001-75000) and $17,480 (75001-110000) per year. For students entering nursing, CS, or finance, the payback from program earnings is fast even at the middle bracket. For students in lower-earning programs, the 19.3-year aggregate payback period suggests structural earnings inadequacy. Middle-income families should weight program choice heavily when evaluating JSU.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $18,183 per year. For full-pay families whose students enter nursing or technical programs, JSU represents genuine value. For full-pay students targeting general business, social sciences, or fine arts, the net price is the same $18,183 a year. The program selection decision matters more here than the institution-level price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Jacksonville State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,984 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $47,385 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,864 | D |
| Biology | $48,523 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,874 | C |
| Security Science and Technology | $50,281 | D |
| Social Work | $45,882 | D |
| Music | $47,582 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $46,042 | F |
| Marketing | $47,514 | C+ |
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 JSU's best program by a clear margin: 240 graduates, $68,896 year-one, $83,984 year-four, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.312 and median debt $21,500. At in-state cost, this is an outstanding value for Alabama nursing students. Year-one earnings of $68,896 against median debt of $21,500 produce a debt-to-earnings ratio that supports nursing as a strong ROI proposition. JSU nursing feeds directly into Alabama healthcare systems.
Computer and Information Sciences
31 graduates, $62,795 year-one, $79,129 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.375 and median debt $23,578. CS at JSU earns a B grade - above the institutional average by a wide margin. Year-one earnings nearly double the institutional average of $31,800, reflecting the national demand for CS-trained workers. Students who complete this program at JSU's low in-state price benefit from a favorable cost-to-earnings ratio despite the institution's overall weak ROI profile.
Finance and Financial Management
35 graduates, $39,457 year-one, $70,025 year-four, ROI grade B with low median debt of $14,875 and debt-to-earnings 0.377. The finance program's B grade is driven primarily by very low median debt - $14,875. Year-one earnings are modest but the four-year trajectory to $70k is solid. Low-debt finance graduates at JSU are positioned well relative to their borrowing; the risk is that fewer students reach the four-year earnings milestone.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies
30 graduates, $57,466 year-one, $90,850 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.413 and median debt $23,709. Students interested in technical careers who want strong earnings without CS or engineering should examine this program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 57.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 45.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 50.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Jacksonville 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 | 77.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-24 |
| Enrollment | 7,036 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,074 |
JSU's 77.7% admission rate and ACT range of 17-24 indicate a broad-access institution. For academically prepared students, JSU offers a low-cost credential; for students near the lower boundary of the ACT range, the 54.7% completion rate is a direct risk signal. Students who enroll without completing leave with debt and no degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University (this school) | 32 | $14,279 | $45,235 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 55 | $18,749 | $54,501 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| Colorado Mesa University | 33 | $15,103 | $45,823 |
| Morehead State University | 32 | $9,793 | $43,197 |
| Alabama A & M University | 10 | $17,621 | $40,628 |
Who Thrives Here
JSU admits 77.7% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 500-660 Math and 500-630 Reading; ACT composite 17-24. Enrollment of 7,036 is mid-sized for a regional Alabama public. The 42.6% Pell rate indicates a high proportion of lower-income students - a population that faces concentrated financial risk when completion rates and earnings outcomes are weak. Students targeting nursing, computer science, or engineering technology have clear paths to strong outcomes. Students entering general liberal arts, social sciences, or fine arts programs should closely examine program-specific outcomes before committing.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Jacksonville State University scores 32/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $14,279 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,235 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 19.3 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, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 57.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,189 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Jacksonville State University: Common Questions
Is Jacksonville State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Jacksonville State University scores 32/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $14,279 a year after aid against $45,235 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 19.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Jacksonville 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 $14,279 a year, or roughly $57,116 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 Jacksonville State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,235 ten years after enrolling, roughly $3,435 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Jacksonville 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 about 19.3 years for Jacksonville State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Jacksonville State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,189, against average earnings of $31,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Jacksonville State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.7%. 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.