Jackson State University is a public university, established in 1877, situated in Jackson, Mississippi. Known to have a firm position in the field of research studies, it is known to be one of the best and largest historically black universities. It provides the best facilities to its students with world-class infrastructure, ample opportunities and a holistic view of their development. Programs are offered across 6 fields of study. Their marching band ‘Sonic Boom of the South’ and athletic teams of ‘The Tigers’ are quite famous across the country, too.

Highlights

University Type Public
Accreditation SACS
Annual Endowment 36 million USD
Student Retention Rate 71%
Intake Sessions Fall, Spring & Summer
Work-study program Available
Mode of Program Full time; Part-time; Online
Campus Housing Capacity 36%
Cost of attendance 28,726 USD/Year
Student-Faculty Ratio 18:1
Website jsums.edu

Campus

  • Campus stretches over a land of 200+ acres, it includes approximately 50 buildings and is located exactly between Prentiss and Dalton Streets.
  • A student can enjoy the participation of more than 130 clubs and student bodies, one of the most prominent ones being the International Student Association.
  • One has access to all facilities provided they carry their JSU ID/ Supercard all the time.
  • Athletics being their highlights, the campus houses all facilities for the same. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, gold, tennis and bowling.

Residence

  • Students are required to fill in the housing application before the deadline (which is June 29, 2023- Fall semester), which can be done only when they are registered as a student at JSU.
  • Applicants for the same are required to submit insurance proof when they check-in.
  • A non-refundable $100.00 is to be submitted as a non-refundable housing application for all fresher’s and a $75.00 is charged for all returning students.
  • The room includes basic facilities such as bed, b=mattress, study area, chair, and closets.
  • By signing the License Agreement, the student is simultaneously also enrolled for the University meal plan program

For reference, these are the rates for residency during Summer 2023:

Classification Double Room Rate Single Room Rate
Undergraduate $403.50 per session $807.00 per session
Graduate $580.00 per session $1161.00 per session

Programs

  • Programs are offered across 6 disciplines, for which there is a separate college each, and they are Business, Health Sciences, Education and Health Development, Liberal Arts, and Science, Engineering and Technology.
  • College of Business: Programs available are BBA, MBA, MPA and PhD in the specializations of Business Admin, Finance, and Marketing. Small Business Development Centre, Trading Room, accreditation from the Association for Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business are some of the college’s most prominent features.
  • College of Liberal Arts: Offers courses such as BA, BSc, B. of Music Education, MA, MA in Teaching, MSc, PhD in Clinical Psychology. APA has accredited its psychology courses, making them one of the most sought after, along with Music studies.
  • College of Health Sciences: Provides the opportunity to its students to specialize in Public Health or Social Work.
  • College of Science and Technology: With JSU being a research hub, a majority of students apply for studies under this college, which offers courses in Biology, Urban Planning and various sub-fields of Engineering.
  • College of Education and Human Development: The college offers its designation to the U.S. PREP National Centre for Educator Preparation Transformation and has programs such as Curriculum designing, Education Leadership and Psychometric Services.

Application Process

International students seeking admissions at the University can follow the below-mentioned admission details:

For UG Programs

In order to apply for your desired course under the UG program at JSU, the following procedure is supposed to be followed:

  • Submission of Application form accessed from their website. (Please note that there is NO application fee)
  • Submission of required documents:
  • ACT score (minimum requirement of 16 or higher) or an equivalent score in SAT (excluding writing)
  • High School credentials with official evaluation done from an accepted service agency.
  • Submission of proof of English Proficiency tests (applies to international student applicants only):
  • TOEFL IBT: 69
  • TOEFL CBT: 194
  • TOEFL PBT 525

For Graduate Programs

The following requirements should be fulfilled in order to apply for any graduate course at JSU:

  • Submission of application form which can be accessed at their grad school website. (Interested students are supposed to pay a $25.00 application fee along with it, which can be made via a credit/debit card only).
  • Submission of English Proficiency test scores (applicable to only international students):
  • TOEFL: Minimum requirement of 69
  • IELTS: Minimum requirement of 6.5
  • Submission of credentials from previous educational institution, which should be evaluated and verified by an accepted service (Global Credential Evaluations, Inc. or World Education Services, Inc. only)
  • Submission of certified declaration of financial support
  • Submission of proof of Immunization records
  • Additional departmental requirements, depending upon whichever course you opt for.

Cost of Attendance

This budget includes tuition and fees, room and board, and an estimated cost of books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses for the academic year 2023-2024.

Undergraduate Programs

Intake Seasons Fall Spring Total
Tuition And Fees  $ 4,135 $ 500 $ 4,135 $ 500.00 $ 8,270 $ 1,000
Room And Board $ 5,019.50 $ 5,019.50 $ 10,039
Books & Supplies $ 700 $ 700 $ 1,400
Personal Expenses $ 1,696.50 $ 1,696.50 $ 3,393
Transportation $ 937.50 $ 937.50 $ 1,875
* Direct Loan Fees $ 46 $ 46 $ 92
Total $ 13,034.50 $ 13,034.50 $ 26,069.00

*Do not include Direct Loan Fee in the calculation if the student’s Financial Aid Package does not include a Direct student loan.*)

Graduate Programs

Intake Seasons Fall Spring Total
Tuition And Fees $ 4,135 $ 500 $ 4,135 $ 500 $ 8,270 $ 1,000
Room And Board $ 4,640 $ 4,640 $ 9,280
Books & Supplies $ 700 $ 700 $ 1,400
Personal Expenses $ 1,816 $ 1,816 $ 3632
Transportation $ 937.50 $ 937.50 $ 1,875.00
Direct Loan Fees $ 109 $ 109 $ 218
Total $ 12,837.50 $ 12,837.50 $25,675.00

Financial Aid for International students

  • As part of financial aid, one can opt for scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs.
  • Financing education abroad can be challenging for international students.
  • International students aspiring to study at JSU are ineligible for federal, state, or financial aid programs processed by their Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

Other Sources of Funding

Applying for financial aid programs in the US can be overwhelming due to their extensive application filing process. Here’s a brief list of research scholarship opportunities from private organizations both within the U.S. and India.

Alumni

  • Their alumni association has ‘chapters’, which are more or fewer events for the same. It requires at least 10 Jacksonians to come together, efforts are pooled.
  • Alumni members are always on the lookout for each other, by organizing regular events, especially homecoming reunion activities.
  • Individuals who are current members of the JSUNAA get a 40% on facilities in the JSU Student Center and the Jacob L. Reddix Building.

Placement

  • There are a number of arrangements for employers to connect with students of JSU.
  • One of them is On-campus recruiting, via which they are able to screen and select candidates for their interviews with their respective companies.
  • The JSU Career Services Centre uses an employer pre-screening system for scheduling campus interviews.
  • The placement is offered to students on a first-come, first-serve basis.