Jacksonville State University
64%
Acceptance rate
$21,180
Tuition/yr
7,500
Enrollment
19:1
Student:Faculty
About Jacksonville State University
Public university in Alabama. Strong education, business, and STEM programs.
Jacksonville State University (JSU) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama, founded in 1883. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and organized into six colleges: Arts, Humanities & Sciences; Business and Industry; Education and Professional Studies; Health Professions and Wellness; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the Library system. For Fall 2025, JSU crossed 10,000 students for the first time, reflecting four consecutive years of enrollment growth.
JSU is recognized for its programs in nursing, criminal justice, computer science, and education. The College of Health Professions and Wellness houses nursing degrees that rank in the US News top 300, while the criminal justice program offers concentrations in forensic investigations, corrections, and law enforcement. Graduate offerings include an MS in Computer Systems and Software Design with an information security concentration. Athletics compete at the NCAA Division I FBS level in Conference USA, and the Marching Southerners band won the 2021 Sudler Trophy.
The university sits on a 459-acre campus in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Alabama, a small college town roughly 90 minutes east of Birmingham. The campus was substantially rebuilt after an EF3 tornado caused over $100 million in damage in March 2018. The surrounding region offers a low cost of living compared to major US metros, which keeps overall student expenses relatively affordable.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
AL
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- JSU's undergraduate international tuition runs approximately $10,590 per semester (tuition only), which is noticeably lower than flagship state universities, making it a cost-accessible option for Nepali students mindful of total debt.
- The university hosts an International House (Clarence W. Daugette, Jr. International House) and a dedicated International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office that handles I-20 documentation, reducing the administrative friction that new international students often face.
- Programs in nursing, computer science (with an information security track), and criminal justice are among JSU's stronger offerings and can qualify graduates for Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM-designated programs may be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension, allowing post-study work experience in the US.
- JSU's acceptance rate of approximately 78% lowers the admissions barrier for Nepali applicants who may not have competitive profiles for highly selective research universities, while still providing a SACS-accredited US degree recognised for further study or immigration purposes.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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