Jacksonville State University: the complete school report for parents
Jacksonville State University puts the most weight on GPA. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 73.2% admit rate and 55% of enrolled students at a 3.50 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong.
Jacksonville State University is officially Jacksonville State University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does Jacksonville State University actually weigh in admissions?
Jacksonville State University rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 16 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Jacksonville State University's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Jacksonville State University rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Not Considered |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Not Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Not Considered |
| recommendations | Not Considered |
| personal qualities | Not Considered |
| talent | Not Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Not Considered |
| geography | Not Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Not Considered |
| work experience | Not Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Jacksonville State University consider how hard my child’s courses were?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Jacksonville State University consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Jacksonville State University consider the application essay?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider extracurricular activities?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider recommendation letters?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider character and personal qualities?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider a special talent or ability?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider class rank?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does Jacksonville State University consider demonstrated interest?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does Jacksonville State University consider an interview?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does Jacksonville State University consider legacy status?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does Jacksonville State University consider being first-generation?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider where we live?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider state residency?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider volunteer work?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider work experience?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
Does Jacksonville State University consider religious affiliation?
No. Jacksonville State University does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
55% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.45 on a 4 scale, reported for 85.25% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 30.2% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 7.2% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 17.7% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 12.3% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 13.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 11.7% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 7.7% |
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Jacksonville State University admitted 62.5% of 1,267 transfer applicants, against 73.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Jacksonville State University reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | September 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | Not reported |
| Early Decision offered | Not reported |
| Early Action offered | No |
| Application fee | $35 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Not reported |
What will Jacksonville State University actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $14,279 a year at Jacksonville State University after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $353. The published price is not what most families pay.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $12,472 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $12,622 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $15,343 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $17,480 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,183 |
, which the federal data puts at about $235 a month in repayment Jacksonville State University’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Jacksonville State University pay off?
Graduates earn a median $45,235 ten years after entering, and $40,158 at six years. 72% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 42% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $49,888 | 40.4 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $50,488 | 40.9 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $61,372 | 49.7 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $69,920 | 56.6 |
| Over $110,000 | $72,732 | 58.9 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$76,445 to $34,059, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Jacksonville State University:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $76,445 | 295 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $65,546 | 24 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,298 | 35 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $58,732 | 25 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $49,340 | 77 |
| Music | $48,790 | 45 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $48,322 | 66 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,498 | 157 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $43,553 | 106 |
| Psychology, General | $37,228 | 38 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,137 | 25 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $34,059 | 22 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
67% of first-years return for a second year. 29% graduate within four years and 48% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 41.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 55.3% of everyone else, a gap of 14.3 points.
How big are the classes?
44% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 1% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, and 65% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at Jacksonville State University like?
9,028 undergraduates, 20.1% of first-years from out of state. 67.03% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 24.97% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 20.06% of men join a fraternity and 22.24% of women a sorority. 36% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $48,389.
What this means for your student
- 55% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.45. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- Its highest-earning major returns $76,445 five years out against $34,059 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Jacksonville State University
What GPA do you need for Jacksonville State University?
55% of enrolled students at Jacksonville State University 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 do Jacksonville State University graduates earn?
Jacksonville State University graduates earn a median $45,235 ten years after entering, and 72% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Jacksonville State University
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Jacksonville State University’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.
How to read these numbers · Back to the Jacksonville State University profile