Jackson State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Jackson State University charges a net price of $23,836/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $95,344. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,060, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Jackson State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #12 of 32 Mississippi colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $23,836/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $95,344 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $39,060 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,300/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $30,470 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$281,344 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Jackson State University's own numbers. Net price $23,836 × 4 years = $95,344 total. Median earnings $39,060 fall $9,300 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $95,344 bill in about 9.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Jackson State University students graduate with?
A median $30,470 in federal loans among completers, or 78% of the $39,060 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Jackson State University students graduate?
51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $95,344 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $186,949 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Jackson State University expensive compared with other Mississippi colleges?
Its $23,836 net price runs $14,822 above the $9,015 median across the 32 Mississippi colleges we profile, or $59,286 more across the full degree.