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. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value52
Affordability89
Selectivity51
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 45.3%, Alcorn State University is a selective institution.
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
The real cost of attending Alcorn State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,265 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,265
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
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 full-time students who enrolled at Alcorn State University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
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
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alcorn State University earn a median of $36,421 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
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
Alcorn State University is home to 2,363 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
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.
Setting
Rural: RemoteAlcorn State, Mississippi
Housing
Strongly residential2,109 beds for 2,363 students
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alcorn State University is 16:1, close to the national average.
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
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alcorn State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
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
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alcorn State University.
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?
Alcorn State University has an acceptance rate of 45.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Alcorn State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Alcorn State University scored between 670 and 998 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Alcorn State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Alcorn State University scored between 15 and 19 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Alcorn State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Alcorn State University is $13,265 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alcorn State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,421 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,265 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alcorn State University known for?
Alcorn State University is best known for its programs in Biology, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alcorn State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alcorn State University are $36,421, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
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?
Alcorn State University enrolls 2,363 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alcorn State University?
Alcorn State University graduates 32% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alcorn State University a public or private college?
Alcorn State University is a Public institution.
Where is Alcorn State University located?
Alcorn State University is located in Alcorn State, Mississippi.
What programs does Alcorn State University offer?
Alcorn State University offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Teacher Education (K-12), Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alcorn State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alcorn State University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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