Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #305 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Jacksonville State University sits in the 55.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #332 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Jacksonville State University's composite standing reflects a balance of earnings beyond expectations and post-graduation affordability that is uncommon among broad-access public institutions. Its health-dominant program portfolio positions graduates for stable, in-demand careers, supporting the earnings outcomes that drive its standing in the 55.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #305 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Jacksonville, AL, Jacksonville State University enrolls roughly 7,036 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 64.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 54.7%, reflecting the institution's ability to move students through to degree completion. The composite is anchored by what Jacksonville State University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,318, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Jacksonville State University in the 55.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant concentration in Health shapes both the earnings profile and the career pathways most graduates enter. Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #881 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the picture. 42.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that serves a wide range of family backgrounds. Jacksonville State University sits in the 76.8 percentile for affordability and the 82.6 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 83.5 percentile — a composite profile shaped by the institution's regional role and its concentration in health-related fields that feed directly into local and statewide labor markets.
Jacksonville State University's published cost of attendance is $24,257. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,472, middle-income families pay around $15,343, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,183. Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #332 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Jacksonville State's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The university meets demonstrated need through need-based aid, with families applying via the FAFSA. Financial aid savings relative to sticker price average $9,978, reflecting the gap between published cost and what typical families actually pay after aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,189, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,672; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,318, median federal debt of $22,189 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Jacksonville State University is a public university in AL with a program mix anchored in Health and related applied fields — a strong fit for students who want a clear, direct path into stable careers in nursing, allied health, and education without taking on unnecessary financial risk. The earnings case is grounded in regional labor-market alignment. Graduates earn median $55,318 four years after enrollment, placing Jacksonville State University in the 30.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Jacksonville State University in the 55.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 42.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 36.4% are first-generation students, and Jacksonville State University delivers completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students at a rate of 44.5% — making it a realistic and financially accessible option for cost-sensitive families across South. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is oriented toward health, education, and applied professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $22,189 against the regional earnings baseline, keeping in mind that AL's no-degree earnings floor is $30,168.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Jacksonville State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Michigan University Similar quality tier (#10807 ranked) | MI | 80% | $51,793 | #10807 | Compare |
Indiana State University Similar quality tier (#10815 ranked) | IN | 81% | $48,387 | #10815 | Compare |
Arkansas State University Similar quality tier (#10818 ranked) | AR | 82% | $42,617 | #10818 | Compare |
Midwestern State University Similar quality tier (#10805 ranked) | TX | 94% | $55,747 | #10805 | Compare |
Eastern Washington University Similar quality tier (#10824 ranked) | WA | 91% | $57,897 | #10824 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Jacksonville State University's published cost of attendance is $24,257. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,472, middle-income families pay around $15,343, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,183.
Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #332 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Jacksonville State's aid structure combines federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The university meets demonstrated need through need-based aid, with families applying via the FAFSA.
Financial aid savings relative to sticker price average $9,978, reflecting the gap between published cost and what typical families actually pay after aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,189, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,672; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,318, median federal debt of $22,189 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,318, placing Jacksonville State University in the 30.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Jacksonville State University in the 55.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Jacksonville State University #881 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 40.5 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to AL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,168, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Jacksonville State University is anchored in Health and related applied fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the largest graduate cohort with strong earnings outcomes, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Among the top programs by scale, Nursing program graduates 295 students with median earnings of $83,984 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks Nursing #110 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Teacher Education and General Studies round out the institution's core program mix, each enrolling substantial cohorts and delivering early-career earnings that reflect the steady hiring demand in health and applied professional fields.
Programs in Business account for 13% of degree output, with Education contributing 13% — a concentration that shapes the institution's earnings profile and connects graduates to stable regional labor markets.
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
29 graduates
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
21 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
295 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
24 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
31 graduates
Jacksonville State University's program mix is anchored in health, business, and public-safety fields — a signature that reflects the institution's regional identity as a comprehensive public university serving north Alabama and beyond. Health programs form the largest share of degree output, followed by business administration and criminal justice, together shaping a portfolio oriented toward stable, in-demand careers in local and regional labor markets.
The program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong earnings is Nursing, which serves as the institution's primary economic driver by volume. Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 295 students annually, with median earnings of $83,984 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #110 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Teacher Education and General Studies also enroll large cohorts — 157 and 106 graduates respectively — with median earnings of $47,385 and $42,864 four years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's strength in applied professional fields that lead directly into regional workforce demand. The highest-earning programs at Jacksonville State University cluster in health and technical fields.
Nursing leads on earnings, with graduates posting median earnings of $83,984 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #110 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Security Science and Technology follow, with median earnings of $56,874 and $50,281 respectively four years after enrollment — programs that connect graduates directly to in-demand roles in healthcare and public service.
For context on how these fields align with national labor-market trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
