Jacksonville State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville, Alabama · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 11,273
- Applicants
- 8,256
- Admitted73%
- 1,641
- Enrolled
- 20%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective73% admittedRanked #353 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #345 (tie), Computer Science #319 (tie), Nursing #243 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Jacksonville State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Jacksonville State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Jacksonville State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Jacksonville State is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama that admits about 73% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $14,279 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 48% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Jacksonville State is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Alabama with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Jacksonville State admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 73%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1070 and an ACT composite around 20. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,279 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Jacksonville State?
55% of enrolled students at Jacksonville State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.45, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Jacksonville State weight in admissions?
Jacksonville State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Considered
1- Standardized test scores
Not Considered
16- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Jacksonville State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 17–24. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 950 |
| 50th percentile | 1070 |
| 75th percentile | 1210 |
| % submitting SAT | 4.6% |
| 25th percentile | 17 |
| 50th percentile | 20 |
| 75th percentile | 24 |
| % submitting ACT | 42.6% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Jacksonville State (AL) is test-optional for freshmen; recommends sending scores. Placement via EdReady if no scores.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Jacksonville State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 17.22% |
| Top 25% of class | 37.75% |
| Top 50% of class | 67.55% |
| % submitting class rank | 9.2% |
How much does Jacksonville State actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,894 for in-state students and $23,334 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $9,524 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,279 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 43% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $353 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $706 |
| Room and board | $9,932 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,279 |
| Average need-based grant | $6,999 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $35 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Jacksonville State
| Notification date | 9/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Jacksonville State?
These predict outcomes at Jacksonville State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Jacksonville State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Jacksonville State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. Across all programs, Jacksonville State confers roughly 860 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $76,445 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 295 | $76,445 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 157 | $45,498 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 106 | $43,553 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 77 | $49,340 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 66 | $48,322 |
| Biology, General | 58 | $42,418 |
| Marketing | 55 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 46 | $39,144 |
Is Jacksonville State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Jacksonville State disclosed 11 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Jacksonville State?
About 25% of undergraduates at Jacksonville State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 20% of men join a fraternity and 22% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Alabama parents ask about
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Next steps for Jacksonville State
Common questions parents ask about Jacksonville State
What GPA do I need for Jacksonville State?
55% of enrolled students at Jacksonville State had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.45, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Jacksonville State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 535. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 17–24.
How much does Jacksonville State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Jacksonville State after grants and scholarships is $14,279 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $12,894 and $23,334 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Jacksonville State realistic for my child?
Jacksonville State admits 73% of applicants, so 500–660 SAT Math is target range and below 500 is a reach. Then check the $14,279 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Jacksonville State?
Jacksonville State accepts about 73% of applicants out of roughly 11,273 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Jacksonville State test-optional?
Yes. Jacksonville State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Jacksonville State?
About 48% of students at Jacksonville State graduate within six years, and 29% finish in four years. 67% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Jacksonville State look for in applicants?
Jacksonville State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Jacksonville State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Jacksonville State is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Alabama.
What are the most popular majors at Jacksonville State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Jacksonville State by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. The school awards about 860 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Jacksonville State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Jacksonville State reported 11 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Jacksonville State?
At Jacksonville State, 25% of undergraduates live on campus, 20% of men are in fraternities, 22% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Jacksonville State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers