Alcorn State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Alcorn State, Mississippi. It enrolls 2,363 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value52
Affordability89
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Alcorn State University admits 45.3% of applicants, which makes it genuinely competitive, so your application needs to be strong.
Acceptance Rate
45.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
670 – 998
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 19
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alcorn State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
33.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $13,265 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$8,785
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,204
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,204
Books & Supplies
$1,672
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,582
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,582
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,751
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,613
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,344
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,296
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,244
Over $110,000
$17,620
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,70010%percentile
$7,68525%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$33,50075%percentile
$45,87590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,063
↓ $8,937
No Pell $11,000
↓ $16,000
Dependent students $15,668
↓ $11,332
Independent students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $16,500
↓ $10,500
Male students $18,032
↓ $8,968
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
32% of students who start here finish within six years, and 78% come back after first year. Fewer than half finish in six years. Ask what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
32%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $36,421 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,421
Earning > $25K
60%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
0.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 46% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 2,363 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 35% are the first in their family to go to college.
Total Enrolled
2,363
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 96.6%2,282
White 1.6%38
International 0.9%20
Hispanic 0.6%13
Other 0.3%8
Asian 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alcorn State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Alcorn State University offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
There are 16 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,200
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$19M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,320
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
114 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
23
20%
$79,352
Associate Professors
20
18%
$72,097
Assistant Professors
37
32%
$59,689
Instructors
34
30%
$51,263
Pros & Cons of Alcorn State University
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Alcorn State University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about Alcorn State University
The questions families ask most about Alcorn State University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Alcorn State University hard to get into?
Alcorn State University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 45.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Alcorn State University?
45.3% of applicants are admitted. Around half get in, so a solid application has a real chance. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for Alcorn State University?
Aim for 998 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 670 and 998 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for Alcorn State University?
Aim for 19 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 15 and 19 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Alcorn State University cost?
Budget around $13,265 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alcorn State University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $36,421 a year against a net price of $13,265, about 2.7 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alcorn State University known for?
Mostly Biology, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Alcorn State University graduates earn?
About $36,421 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alcorn State University accredited?
Yes. Alcorn State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Alcorn State University?
2,363 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Alcorn State University?
32% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Alcorn State University a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Alcorn State University located?
Alcorn State University is located in Alcorn State, Mississippi.
What programs does Alcorn State University offer?
38 different programs, most commonly Biology, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alcorn State University?
16 students per instructor. About average, so a mix of seminars and larger lectures. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in Mississippi
Other colleges in Mississippi share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
Kinesiology
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