Jackson State University vs. Lamar University

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

Jackson State University Lamar University
Location Jackson, MS Beaumont, TX
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,564 17,473
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974 #938
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu lamar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University Lamar University
Tuition (In State) $8,815 $6,228
Tuition (Out of State) $8,815 $16,020
Room & Board $11,782 $10,272
Avg Net Price $19,892 $10,999
Avg Grant Aid $8,133 $10,544
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 88%

Admission

Jackson State University Lamar University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,141 7,246
Admitted 12,873 6,212
Acceptance Rate 91% 85.7%
Enrolled % 7.6% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 18/24
SAT Range 850/1080 910/1130
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 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Jackson State University Lamar University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University Lamar University
Graduation Rate 40% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 42%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $299 $227

Diversity

Jackson State University Lamar University
% Men 7% 16%
% Women 20% 38%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 48%
% Black 92% 27%
% Hispanic 0% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Jackson State University Lamar University
% In-State 30% 97%
% Out-of-State 69% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lamar University is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (17,473 students vs. 6,564 students)

Jackson State University vs. Lamar University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jackson State University or Lamar University?

  • Jackson State University is 41.5% more expensive to attend than Lamar University for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $6,228.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 81.7% higher at Lamar University than Jackson State University ($16,020.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lamar University than Jackson State University ($10,999 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lamar University are 14.7% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($10,272 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than Lamar University (92% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lamar University students is 29.6% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($10,544 vs. $8,133)

Jackson State University vs. Lamar University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Jackson State University or Lamar University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lamar University or Jackson State University .

  • The average SAT score at Lamar University (974) is 64 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Lamar University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Lamar University students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than Lamar University (85.7%)

Jackson State University vs. Lamar University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jackson State University or Lamar 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 Lamar University and Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than Lamar University (40% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Lamar University earn on average $12,700 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $32,800)
  • Lamar University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Lamar University graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($227 vs. $299)
  • More Lamar University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 36%)

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