Jackson State University
Jackson, Mississippi · Public · 4,600 undergraduates · jsums.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
93%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
820 to 1070
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$43,470Est.Estimate
$47,660 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Jackson State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
93% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$47,660
a year in 2027-28, from a $47,660 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 950
Send your score
About 67% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 730, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Named scholarships
Your GPA and scores don't reach a tier of this college's named scholarships yet.
2 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your unweighted GPA is below 3.2, you must send a score.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
- Full admission without ACT/SAT requires College Preparatory Curriculum plus a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.20; lower GPAs (2.50 or top 50% rank with ACT 16+, or 2.00 with ACT 18) use test scores. SAT equivalents accepted in lieu of ACT.
Source: Undergraduate Admissions: Admission to the University (Admission Policies, Updated 9.12.25) · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Jul15Other deadline · July 15, 2027
- Aug12Priority deadline · August 12, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
93%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 820 to 1070
Reading and Writing 430 to 550
Math 390 to 520
ACT composite 15 to 20
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$43,470
a year, in state
$47,660
a year, out of state (tuition $14,320)
- Tuition (in state)$10,130
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$34,073
- $30,001 to $48,000$35,082
- $48,001 to $75,000$37,369
- $75,001 to $110,000Not reported
- Over $110,000$32,640
Financial aidEstimate
43%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
89%
of freshmen receive grants
$8,386
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Presidential Academic Scholarship
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
- 3.50+ GPA, 1420+ SAT or 32+ ACT, College Preparatory Curriculum GPA
Deadline: Feb 1 (application window Nov 1-Feb 1). To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA, and complete 30 credit hours each year; it renews for 3 years.
DetailsProvost Academic Scholarship
Full tuition
Competitive · Application required
- 3.25+ GPA, 1130+ SAT or 25+ ACT, College Preparatory Curriculum GPA
Deadline: Feb 1 (application window Nov 1-Feb 1). To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA, and complete 30 credit hours each year.
Details
Mississippi programs for residents
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
$2,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT, Entering freshman; first certificate/associate/bachelor's program
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
$500 to $1,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 2.50+ GPA, 15+ ACT, Entering freshman; must NOT be eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant (FAFSA); GED or homeschool alternatives to GPA
Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP)
State program · In-state students
Tuition and required fees at a public institution; private: average tuition/fees of public 4-year (or 2-year) institutions
- 2.50+ GPA, 20+ ACT, Graduating high school senior; parents' average AGI <= $42,500 (+$5,000 per additional dependent child under 21); SAI at or below level for a minimum Pell Grant; graduated HS within prior 2 years; apply by Mar 31, documents by Apr 30
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
32 of 32
Earn credit with a score of 3
32 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,010Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 102 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 201 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | HIS 1613 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 206 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIO 111/L |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIO 111/L AND BIO 112/L |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 241 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 241 MATH 242 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 141/L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 141/L AND CHEM 142/L |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PS 238 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSC 118 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 6 | CSC 118 AND CSC 119 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 111 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENG 104 OR ENG 111 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENG 104 & 105 OR ENG 111 & 112 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENG 205 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENG 205 & 222 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIO 103/L |
| European History | 3 | 3 | HIST 101 OR HIST 111 |
| European History | 4 | 6 | HIST 101 & 102 OR HIST 111 & 112 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FR 101 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FR 101 AND FR 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GR 101 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GR 101 & GR 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 105 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO 211 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO 212 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUS 211 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHY 201/L |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHY 202/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHY 212/L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHY 211/L |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 201 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SP 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SP 101 & SP 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SP 201 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | SP 201 & SP 202 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 271 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PS 135 |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | HIST 201 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 201 & HIST 202 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | HIST 101 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 | HIST 101 & HIST 102 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
43%
Come back for a second year
62%
Typical earnings
$42,075
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Jackson State University$40,319
- All colleges$53,234
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 17 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Jackson State University. The Jackson State University logo is a trademark of the college.