Jackson State University in Mississippi Video Review

Jackson State University is located just five minutes from the downtown capital city of Jackson. The university, which sits on a 125-acre campus, was awarded a national ranking in America's Best Colleges report.

Jackson State is the first historically black university in the country and was a private Baptist school prior to becoming a public co-educational college in 1940. The university boasts a renowned meteorology program, as well as premier business and computer departments.

Dedicated to the advancement of a free society and the continued progress of democracy, the university maintains an official designation as the Urban University of Mississippi. As part of this designation, Jackson State emphasizes public service programs in order to seek solutions to urban problems in the physical, social, intellectual and economic environments.

Jackson State awards certificates, as well as bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. The most popular majors are biology, social work, education, elementary education and accounting.

Jackson State maintains a 'less selective' admission process with a 39 percent acceptance rate. Typical incoming freshmen carry a grade point average of 2.8 and submit ACT test scores between 16 and 20.

-statistics compiled by U.S. News and World Report in its annual list 'America's Best Colleges.'