Jacksonville State University
#2 Best Education Colleges in AlabamaBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Education Colleges in Alabama.
Every $1 spent returns $18.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $981,213.
Quick Degree Finder
Find an Accredited Program
Accepting applicants in this field now.
Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms
What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Every $1 invested returns $18.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Jacksonville State University Matters
Jacksonville State University is a public university in Jacksonville, AL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 7,036
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Jacksonville State University
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
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1000–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,279 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,235 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $22,189 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 59% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.23 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 7,000 students choose Jacksonville State University for its accessible education, reflected in a 78% acceptance rate. This means many aspiring students can find a place here, regardless of their academic background.
Jacksonville State's outcomes data shows that graduates earn a median salary of $45,235 a decade after finishing their degrees. While the graduation rate sits at 53%, this indicates that many students still face challenges in completing their programs. The university's Pell Grant rate of 43% highlights its commitment to supporting low-income students, which may impact long-term mobility.
The cost of attendance is relatively manageable, with a net price of $14,279 and a median debt of $22,189. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, and Humanities. With a supportive environment and a focus on practical career paths, Jacksonville State University caters well to a diverse student body seeking growth and opportunity.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Jacksonville State University 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 Jacksonville State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Jacksonville State University, located in Jacksonville, Alabama, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,059. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
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 Jacksonville State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Jacksonville State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $23,334 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,279 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,472 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,189.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Jacksonville State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $45,235, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Jacksonville State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,279/year ($57,116 total). Graduates earn $45,235 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,038,329 in total earnings — a net gain of $981,213 (18.2× your investment). The median debt is $22,189, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
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 Jacksonville State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Jacksonville State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.32%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Jacksonville State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Jacksonville State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Jacksonville State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Jacksonville State University, located in Jacksonville, Alabama, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,059. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Jacksonville State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Jacksonville State University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $23,334 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,279 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,472 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,189.
Is Jacksonville State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $45,235, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Jacksonville State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Jacksonville State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.32%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here: roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Jacksonville State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Jacksonville State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.23 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Jacksonville State University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Jacksonville State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Jacksonville State University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.23 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note