Jackson State University vs. Missouri Southern

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

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
Location Jackson, MS Joplin, MO
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 6,564 4,090
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974 #921
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu mssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
Tuition (In State) $8,815 $8,400
Tuition (Out of State) $8,815 $16,800
Room & Board $11,782 $7,172
Avg Net Price $19,892 $11,264
Avg Grant Aid $8,133 $7,514
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 91%

Admission

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
Applied 14,141 2,302
Admitted 12,873 2,243
Acceptance Rate 91% 97.4%
Enrolled % 7.6% 25.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 18/24
SAT Range 850/1080 1000/1170
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, 2026

Academics

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
Graduation Rate 40% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $36,600
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $20,831
Median Loan Payment $299 $215

Diversity

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
% Men 7% 1%
% Women 20% 3%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 77%
% Black 92% 6%
% Hispanic 0% 5%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Jackson State University Missouri Southern
% In-State 30% 67%
% Out-of-State 69% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than Missouri Southern based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 4,090 students)

Jackson State University vs. Missouri Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jackson State University or Missouri Southern?

  • Jackson State University is 4.9% more expensive to attend than Missouri Southern for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $8,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 90.6% higher at Missouri Southern than Jackson State University ($16,800.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Missouri Southern State University than Jackson State University ($11,264 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Missouri Southern State University are 64.3% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($7,172 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University than Missouri Southern State University (92% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 8.2% larger than aid received Missouri Southern State University ($8,133 vs. $7,514)

Jackson State University vs. Missouri Southern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Missouri Southern State University (1030) is 120 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Missouri Southern students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Missouri Southern students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Missouri Southern has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Jackson State University (91%)

Jackson State University vs. Missouri Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jackson State University or Missouri Southern? 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 Missouri Southern and Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than Missouri Southern State University (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Missouri Southern State University earn on average $3,800 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($36,600 vs. $32,800)
  • Missouri Southern State University students graduate with a $8,169 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($20,831 vs. $29,000)
  • Missouri Southern graduates are paying $84 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($215 vs. $299)
  • More Missouri Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 36%)

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