Alcorn State serves as an Under-Resourced Institution, enrolling 77.4% Pell-eligible students while maintaining selective 24.7% admission standards. The university demonstrates particular strength in agricultural programs, claiming multiple #1 state rankings while providing pathways to economic advancement for students from challenging backgrounds.
Constrained long-term earnings relative to educational investment
Controlled net pricing relative to outcomes
The university's commitment to enrolling Pell-eligible and first-generation students
The institution's mixed success in converting access into earnings advancement
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisExceptional access for underserved students
Alcorn State provides educational access to students from predominantly lower-income backgrounds, with 77.4% of students receiving Pell grants. Graduates earn a median of $36,421 ten years after enrollment, with earnings ranging from $19,114 at the 25th percentile to $56,491 at the 75th percentile.
While median earnings rank in the 12th percentile nationally, the university serves students who often face significant barriers to higher education access. Median student debt reaches $27,000, substantially higher than the peer median of $21,105, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74.
Students from lower-income backgrounds seeking access to higher education with strong institutional support. Particularly well-suited for first-generation college students (34.5%) and those eligible for Pell grants (77.4%).
Best for students prioritizing agricultural programs, nursing, or other professional fields where Alcorn State demonstrates competitive outcomes despite modest overall earnings.
Alcorn State admits approximately 24.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 4 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places the university in the highly selective category, with admission standards significantly more rigorous than typical public institutions.
The peer median admission rate of 84.6% highlights the substantial difference between Alcorn State's selectivity and most four-year colleges. This level of selectivity reflects the university's position as a historically black institution with strong academic standards and limited enrollment capacity.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Alcorn State's published cost of attendance reaches $23,937 per year, including $8,549 in tuition, $10,255 for room and board, and $1,672 for books and supplies. The average student pays $14,040 after financial aid, representing savings of $9,897 from the sticker price.
This net price sits nearly identical to the peer median of $14,093, indicating competitive affordability within Alcorn State's comparison group. The substantial financial aid savings reflect the university's commitment to serving lower-income students, with 77.4% of enrolled students receiving Pell grants.
Net pricing remains relatively stable across income levels, ranging from $13,010 for families earning under $30,000 to $17,658 for middle-income families, before dropping to $12,089 for the highest-income families. This pricing structure indicates that financial aid effectively targets need-based support while maintaining accessibility across economic backgrounds.
Students from various income levels can expect manageable net prices, though the financing methods and debt implications vary significantly by family economic circumstances. The university's financial aid approach emphasizes access over premium pricing, aligning with its mission to serve underrepresented student populations.
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing.
23 graduates
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations.
21 graduates
Corrections Administration.
21 graduates
Agriculture, General.
25 graduates
Biology, General.
104 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jackson State University Higher acceptance rate (66.4 percentage points higher) and located 62 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 91% | $39,060 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Alcorn State University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/alcorn-state-university/analysis.
Alcorn State University ranks #371 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with access performance among the highest we track at the 99.8th percentile. Located in Alcorn State, Mississippi, this medium-sized public historically black university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 24.7% acceptance rate while serving predominantly lower-income students.
Alcorn State enrolls 77.4% Pell-eligible students and 34.5% first-generation students, placing it well above typical institutions on access measures. The university operates as an Under-Resourced Institution, reflecting the challenge of delivering outcomes with limited per-student resources.
Graduates earn a median of $36,421 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 12th percentile nationally. However, earnings fall $3,699 below expectations relative to similar students, placing outcomes in the 39th percentile when accounting for student demographics.
This combination of exceptional access alongside constrained resources characterizes institutions serving students who might otherwise lack higher education opportunities.
For prospective students, this admission rate indicates that strong academic preparation is essential for admission consideration. The university's selective approach means that even students with solid academic records should treat Alcorn State as a competitive target school rather than a safety option.
Students should build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates to ensure adequate admission options. The combination of selective admission with the university's mission to serve underrepresented populations creates a unique competitive landscape where academic preparation must align with institutional fit and values.
This selectivity level requires applicants to demonstrate both academic readiness and genuine interest in the university's programs and mission.
Alcorn State graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over their careers. Median earnings rise from $27,752 six years after enrollment to $32,667 at eight years and $36,421 at ten years, representing 31.2% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes are based on cohorts of 1,017 graduates at six years, 1,279 at eight years, and 1,334 at ten years, providing confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $3,699 below expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing the university in the 39th percentile for earnings uplift.
Low-income graduates earn $31,400, demonstrating the institution's role in providing economic advancement opportunities for students from lower-income backgrounds. The earnings distribution shows significant variation, with the gap between the 25th percentile ($19,114) and 75th percentile ($56,491) reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory.
Approximately 20.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating pathways to both workforce entry and advanced education. The university's completion rate of 46.2% reflects the challenges faced by the student population, with Pell-eligible students graduating at 31.7%, indicating additional support needs for the most economically disadvantaged students.
Alcorn State offers 9 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for ranking. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing ranks #217 nationally and #3 in Mississippi, producing 23 graduates with median earnings of $72,321 and a value score of 21.2.
Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations ranks #35 nationally and #1 in Mississippi, graduating 21 students with median earnings of $53,012 and a strong value score of 29.2. Agriculture, General ranks #18 nationally and #1 in Mississippi, with 25 graduates earning $37,771 and an exceptional value score of 44.0.
Biology, General serves as the university's largest program, graduating 104 students with median earnings of $36,598 and ranking #207 nationally. Corrections Administration ranks #174 nationally and #2 in Mississippi, graduating 21 students with median earnings of $39,137.
The university's agricultural programs demonstrate particular strength, claiming top state rankings in multiple specializations while delivering competitive national performance.
Tougaloo College Higher acceptance rate (28.5 percentage points higher) and located 68 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 53% | $34,724 | Compare |
South Carolina State University Higher acceptance rate (57.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | SC | 82% | $38,262 | Compare |
Alice Lloyd College Higher acceptance rate (60.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | KY | 86% | $40,573 | Compare |
Jackson State University Same state (62 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | MS | 91% | $39,060 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Similar quality tier (#363 ranked) | WI | 87% | $61,760 | #363 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke Similar quality tier in Southeast (#361 ranked) | NC | 92% | $43,407 | #361 | Compare |
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#366 ranked) | PA | 93% | $56,148 | #366 | Compare |
Radford University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#359 ranked) | VA | 91% | $53,739 | #359 | Compare |
Ramapo College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#358 ranked) | NJ | 73% | $67,541 | #358 | Compare |
