Jackson College
- Graduation Rate
- 17% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $36,898 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,761 A-
- 55% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,422
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 28.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $28.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $844,251.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 17% — 71% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Jackson College Matters
Jackson College is a public college in Jackson, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,422
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Jackson College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,761 a year after grants and scholarships — 55% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,898 ten years after enrolling — 10% below the typical college, against $13,875 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 83% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.14 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With about 3,400 students, Jackson College caters to those looking for a supportive environment where they can explore a variety of fields. Students here often dive into programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Construction Trades. It’s a place where you can really get hands-on experience and gain skills that matter in today's job market.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $36,898 on average within ten years. This is a decent starting point, especially considering that 37% of students receive Pell Grants, which helps make education more accessible. While the graduation rate stands at 17%, those who do complete their programs often find that their earnings improve over time, enabling them to build a stable career.
When it comes to the financial side, the average net price after aid is about $7,761, which is manageable for many. Graduates carry a median debt of $13,875, a figure that’s relatively low compared to national averages. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are motivated and ready to take advantage of supportive resources, making the most of their educational journey while keeping costs in check.
Rankings
- #12 Most Affordable Online Master's in Physical Sciences
- #12 Most Affordable Online Master's in Environmental Science
- #15 Best Online Master's in Physical Sciences
- #15 Best Online Master's in Environmental Science
- #20 Most Affordable Online Master's in Engineering
- #20 Most Affordable Online Master's in Mechanical Engineering
- #20 Most Affordable Online Master's in Electrical Engineering
- #20 Most Affordable Online Master's in Civil Engineering
Can I Get In?
How selective Jackson College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Jackson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Jackson, Michigan, Jackson College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,052
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Jackson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Jackson College is $10,200, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,761. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,227 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,875 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,350
- Out-of-State
- $10,200
- Avg Net Price
- $7,761
- Median Debt
- $13,875
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,227
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,062
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,539
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,563
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Jackson College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Jackson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Jackson College report median earnings of $36,898, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,956
- 8 Years
- $34,336
- 10 Years
- $36,898
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Jackson Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Jackson College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Jackson College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,761/year ($31,044 total). Graduates earn $36,898 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $875,295 in total earnings — a net gain of $844,251 (28.2× your investment). The median debt is $13,875, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 17% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,044
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $875,295
- Net Return
- $844,251
- ROI Multiple
- 28.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,761
- Median Debt
- $13,875
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 17%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Jackson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Jackson College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.90%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,366
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,462,986
- Investment Income
- $-231,055
Top Programs
The fields Jackson College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 36%
- Health Professions 23% $72,110 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $43,403 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Construction Trades 4%
- Psychology 4%
- Physical Sciences 3% $34,386 early-career
- Precision Production 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Jackson College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Jackson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Jackson, Michigan, Jackson College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 17%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Jackson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Jackson College is $10,200, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,761. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,227 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,875 in federal student loans.
Is Jackson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Jackson College report median earnings of $36,898, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Jackson College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Jackson College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Jackson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Jackson College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.14, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Jackson College.
- Cochise County Community College DistrictSierra Vista, AZ · Close peer30% grad $38,033 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Gordon State CollegeBarnesville, GA · Close peer19% grad $37,871 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, OK · Close peer14% grad $41,307 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA · Close peer31% grad $38,955 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · Close peer25% grad $38,167 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham, OR · Close peer25% grad $41,125 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Jackson College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Jackson College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.14, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note