Understanding the Cost of Attendance at Jackson State University

The matter of expenses while attending Jackson State University is of importance to every student. It is difficult, however, to give specific information about annual expenses, because they vary according to the nature of the curriculum, the place of residence (whether within Mississippi or outside), and the student’s own habits and needs. Planning for expenses is an important part of the college application process. By learning more about expenses and aid, you’re already on the right path to managing college costs. Knowing what a school costs is Step #1 in managing college costs.

What is the Cost of Attendance?

The term Cost of Attendance (COA) refers to an estimate of total expenses that a student may incur while attending JSU, which includes direct institutional costs as well as indirect costs. The "Cost of Attendance" is the total amount of money the average student has to pay, WITHOUT any financial aid, to attend a particular school. Think of it as a school’s sticker price. Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student's cost to attend college for an academic year. It does NOT represent the amount you will pay to attend Jackson State. The COA is used to determine a student’s financial need for the purposes of awarding financial aid. Most schools establish standard COA budgets for different categories of students. This helps ensure consistent treatment of financial aid applicants. At Jackson State the categories consist of TN Residents vs. The COA amounts listed below represent full-time enrollment (12 credits or more) for the fall and spring semesters. The Financial Aid Office may adjust the COA for other costs on a case-by-case basis upon written request and with proper documentation. Cost of obtaining a first professional license or certificate for students who are enrolled in a program that requires such professional licensure or certification. This allowance must be assigned during the period of enrollment, even if the cost occurs after a student is no longer enrolled. Please note, an approved increase to the cost of attendance does not represent additional funding. For a personalized estimate of cost and aid, you may wish to complete the estimated cost calculator.

The Cost of Attendance listed above might be intimidating. Let's start with the overall numbers. The Cost of Attendance breakdown for Jackson State University differs depending on whether you’re in-state or out-of-state student - in-state students can expect lower costs for tuition and fees. Because Jackson State University is an out-of-state public institution, you'd be paying $9204 more than if you were an in-state student.

Tuition and Fees

Each student will be billed for 100% of the tuition and fees due. Fees are due and payable at the time of registration. All fees are payable in advance by cash, credit card, personalized checks, certified check, or money order. Non-personalized starter checks will not be accepted for payment of fees. As you review the tuition and fees, keep in mind that the fees presented are estimates for the average cost to attend for a full-time student and are subject to change upon approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. A fee of $355.00 per hour will be charged to undergraduate students. Audit fees for courses taught on campus are the same as credit fees. The JSU V.I.B.E. program allows students to rent or purchase textbooks at a reduced cost of $25.00 per Credit Hour. The charge is posted directly to students’ JSU Bursar account along with tuition and fees (University fees). It can be paid along with their University charges using financial aid or methods of payment.

*JSU’s block rate tuition plan is part of an overall effort to enhance student success and persistence while creating an easier, more affordable path to graduation. Students are incentivized to take 15-18 hours in the fall and spring semesters, getting charged the same rate whether they pursue 12-18 hours. To graduate within four years, undergraduates typically need to take 30 hours per academic year. Note: Tuition cost does not include possible program/course fees. Jacksonville State University has partnered with GradGuard to offer a tuition insurance plan as added protection for students and families. This plan may reimburse your non-refundable tuition costs after an unexpected withdrawal from school for a covered reason.

Housing and Meal Plans

Each student interested in on-campus housing must complete an online housing application. The Housing Application is available via the student’s Personal Access to Web Services (P.A.W.S.) Account, under the student tab for Housing. Students will select the “THD: JSU Housing Self-Service link to complete the housing process. Students applying for housing for the first time will be required to pay a housing processing fee before the application can be processed. Continuing students applying for housing will be required to pay a room reservation fee before the application can be processed. The application fee and room reservation fee are non-refundable. JSU Housing and Residence Life fees are assessed through the Housing Director (THD) Self-Service Portal. New and Transfer Students are required to pay a $100.00 non-refundable housing application fee to reside on campus. This fee is valid for up to eight (8) semesters. Applications for student housing may also be obtained from the Housing Director (THD) Self-Service Portal. Completed applications must be accompanied by the required room reservation fee before a student is assigned housing. JSU Housing and Residence Life fees are assessed through the Housing Director (THD) Self-Service Portal. Returning Students are required to pay a $75.00 non-refundable room reservation fee each year, which serves as a confirmation fee for participation in the selection process for University housing for the following academic year. Additionally, the $75.00 non-refundable room reservation fee must be paid by all continuing students who desire to reside on campus. The room reservation fee must be paid through the Housing Director (THD) Self-Service Portal. John W. (All Access Meal Plans Are Mandatory for Residential Students.

When students withdraw with seven or more days remaining in the room period and/or board period, they will receive adjustments at a rate calculated by dividing the charge for room and board by 14 weeks per semester. There will be no refund for fewer than seven days.

Residency

Responsibility for registering as a non-resident student is placed on the student. If a student is in doubt as to his/ her legal residence and questions the decision of the Admissions Office, the matter should be referred to the Registrar for a decision before registration or payment of fees.

Tuition Adjustments and Withdrawals

Tuition adjustments are based on the date that classes begin and the date a course(s) is dropped or on the date of withdrawal. Students withdrawing from the University before the close of a semester must complete an “Application for Withdrawal” form. Financial aid recipients who withdraw or drop a course may not receive a refund as a result of the tuition adjustment. The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (HEA98) represent a major shift in the return of Title IV Federal Financial Aid when a student withdraws from the University. This change in policy went into effect at Jackson State University during the Fall 2000 semester. In general, the new law assumes that a student “earns” approved/verified federal financial aid awards in proportion to the number of days in the term prior to the student’s complete withdrawal. If a student completely withdraws from the University during a term, the University must calculate, according to a specific formula, the portion of the total scheduled financial assistance that the student has earned and is therefore entitled to retain, until the time that the student withdrew. If a student receives (or the University receives on the student’s behalf) more assistance than they earn, the unearned funds must be returned to the Department of Education or parent’s Federal PLUS Loans lenders. If a student’s charges are less than the amount earned, and a refund is due, the student may be able to receive those additional funds.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA. More students getting financial aid means students at Jackson State University are likely getting a pretty good deal on their education. We’re focusing on grants and scholarships first because they’re the most important forms of financial aid. Grants and scholarships are better than loans because students don’t ever have to pay them back. Although it’s useful to know how many students get grant aid, it’s also important to know how much grant aid people tend to receive. So how much grant money do students at Jackson State University tend to receive? Altogether, this is great news - at Jackson State University, MORE students get financial aid, and each award size is HIGHER. The grant dollar amounts we’ve seen so far have included aid from all sources - both federal and institutional. To figure out how strong Jackson State University’s own financial aid program is, we’ll look at how they award their own (non-federal) financial aid dollars. Because more Jackson State University students get institutional aid, it likely offers relatively competitive financial aid. The amount of money that students actually get is just as important (if not more important) than the percent of students who get grants. Right away, it seems like Jackson State University offers more institutional aid than other schools. On the other hand, this can also mean that the school just costs more than the typical school of its type.

Aside from grants, the other major way to pay for college is with student loans. The more student loan money you borrow, the more debt you’ll end up with after graduation. Ideally, you want to minimize your student debt as much as possible. It’s generally a bad sign if a school has many students taking out a lot of loans. First, let’s talk about how many students at Jackson State University actually have to take out any student loans at all. It’s very common for college grads in the US to graduate with some debt, but high percentages of students taking on loans at a particular school is a big red flag. High numbers of students with loans is a red flag, and Jackson State University is above average. To break this down further, we have to understand how much actual debt the average person takes out while in school. We’ll start with federal loans because, in general, federal loans are preferable to private loans. Federal loans tend to have low interest rates, which means they cost less in the long run. High percentages or amounts of federal loans still isn’t a great sign - again, you don’t want to see students burdened with too much debt. At Jackson State University, 72% of all students take out federal loans. At Jackson State University, the average annual federal loan amount is $7233. Other loans, or private loans, are the last resource students turn to when paying for college. At Jackson State University, 1% of students take out private loans. Just as important as the percentage of students with private loans is the average loan amount. The average private loan amount at Jackson State University is $7873. The percentage of students getting federal loans is greater than those getting private loans, which is a good sign.

Work-Study Programs

Jackson State University offers various work-study opportunities designed to help students finance their education while gaining practical experience. On-campus employment options are available across different departments, providing flexible schedules that accommodate academic commitments. Internships linked to academic programs also form a crucial aspect of the work-study experience at Jackson State University, giving students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Financial compensation for work-study participants generally aligns with federal guidelines, ensuring fair pay for hours worked. The work-study program includes opportunities tailored for both domestic and international students, recognizing the diverse backgrounds of the student body.

Key Financial Aid Dates

Application Due: Dec 31 (The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.)
Notification Date: Feb 1 (When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.)

Understanding Net Price

Finally, we get to the bottom line: what will Jackson State University actually cost YOU? Above, we've covered Jackson State University's Cost of Attendance (tuition, room and board, books, and more). The Net Price is the total cost minus the total aid given. In other words, this is the price you have to pay to the school out of pocket. We'll cover two ways to get your Net Price for Jackson State University - the fast way, and the precise way. If you want a quick, general idea of your annual Net Price at Jackson State University, here's a handy chart showing the net price of real students. Most schools have an updated Net Price calculator available. Once you have a Net Price estimate, you’ll want to figure out whether your family can afford to pay Jackson State University tuition and costs. Once again, the Net Price is the total cost of attending, minus the aid you can expect to get (grants and scholarships). The US government has come up with a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help. As an example, a family that brings home $80,000 in income before taxes, with no assets and no other children in college, has an EFC of around $7,000. Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you, but it's just a guideline. So we're going to calculate your EFC and compare it to Jackson State University's Net Price. If the Net Price is higher than the EFC, the school will cost more than you can typically afford. This tool will calculate your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. In order to calculate this amount, we need just 4 pieces of information from you. According to the information you’ve entered above, your Expected Family Contribution should be about $. This is the amount that the federal government thinks you can afford to pay for school. Please note this tool is only an approximation, and your personal situation may cause your EFC to vary.

Is Jackson State University a Good Value?

Chances are, college won't be cheap. Have you considered a range of private and public schools? What if you didn't attend college at all? Here's our take: college will be a really important stage in your development. Going to a better, more reputable college will usually pay off in the long run. To determine the value of Jackson State University, we're going to rely on reputable ranking lists. As a regional school, Jackson State University may not be a household name nationwide, but it's known to people in the local area as a solid school. Compared to some other regional schools, Jackson State University didn't appear on our best value lists. This might be because the net price is higher than for other schools of similar reputation. This isn't the end of the world - you can likely still afford Jackson State University by taking out loans, earning scholarships, or working part-time. Overall, Jackson State University is a decent value, and going to college here will likely pay off over time. To meet Jackson State University's admission requirements, you'll need to have competitive SAT/ACT scores and a good GPA. How do you compare to other students accepted to Jackson State University? Your next step should be to get a better idea of costs and aid availability at similar schools. If you’re interested in Jackson State University, you should check out some other high-value schools that could give you more bang for your buck. Get started here to check both in-state and out-of-state schools that might provide a better value. Finally, we're going to look at schools that might offer a better value than Jackson State University. To compile this list, we first find schools at similar academic levels, so you have a similar chance at getting in. It’s hard to know exactly what schools will be a great value for you without information on your family income. There are a lot of potential financial benefits that come with attending a school close to home. For example, in-state public schools tend to have subsidized tuitions for state residents.

Affordability Compared to National Averages

The cost of attending Jackson State University for a full-time in-state undergraduate student is notably affordable compared to national averages. Tuition is set at $8,520 annually, placing it in the lower 20th percentile nationwide, which indicates it is less expensive than most four-year public institutions. When factoring in room and board, students face a combined charge of $11,972 annually. This figure is influenced by on-campus housing availability, which serves around 3,295 students, a relatively large capacity. Altogether, the annual tuition, fees, and room and board cost approximately $20,767 at Jackson State University. This total remains significantly below the average expense for in-state students attending four-year public colleges nationwide, which is about $25,707 per year. For graduate students and part-time attendees, tuition and fee rates vary but generally remain low, ensuring accessibility for a wide demographic of learners.

Read also: JAX Summer Student Program Guide

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