Alcorn State University
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. 70% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Alcorn State University is a public institution located in Alcorn State, Mississippi with approximately 2,363 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 45% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $13,265 per year. The graduation rate is 57%, and the typical graduate earns $35,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Alcorn State University is a public historically black land-grant research university adjacent to Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and was the first black land grant college established in the United States. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $14,040/year net price and just $17,021 in median debt, this HBCU is genuinely affordable, and its historic significance as the first Black land-grant college in the U.S. carries real weight. However, a 46% graduation rate is a serious concern — fewer than half of students who start here finish — and median earnings of $35,000 a decade out suggest limited financial upside for many graduates. Worth considering if cost is a priority and you have a clear plan to stay enrolled, but look closely at support resources and your intended major before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Alcorn State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($93,159 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($39,841 vs $68,257).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 108 | $40,379 | $57,214 | −$16,835 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 52 | $42,321 | $53,072 | −$10,751 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 48 | $39,841 | $68,257 | −$28,416 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 36 | $93,159 | $88,910 | +$4,249 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 25 | $62,499 | $66,647 | −$4,148 |
| Social Work | 25 | $46,157 | $51,790 | −$5,633 |
| Psychology, General | 21 | $35,015 | $50,706 | −$15,691 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 20 | $41,908 | $55,378 | −$13,470 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 15 | $41,403 | $54,562 | −$13,159 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,363 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Mississippi
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Booneville, MS · Public
Meridian Community College
Meridian, MS · Public
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS · Public
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS · Public
East Mississippi Community College
Scooba, MS · Public
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, MS · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Alcorn State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Alcorn State University?
Alcorn State University has an acceptance rate of 45%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Alcorn State University hard to get into?
Alcorn State University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 45%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Alcorn State University cost?
The average net price at Alcorn State University is about $13,265 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Alcorn State University?
Alcorn State University has a graduation rate of 57%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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