Comparison of Physics Departments

i'd say tech has the better reputation just from the fact that i've heard good things about it and know nothing of jackson state
not the most informed comparison but i suppose it's a decent metric

 

I think you should take a good look at the web sites:

Jackson State's site says their priority is "becoming the definitive source of African Americans who hold B.S. degrees in geosciences for the country" and goes on to talk about how many TV weathermen they produce. How high a priority do you think physics is there?

Jackson State brags that they send students to Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech does not brag that they send students to Jackson State.

 

I've become an expert on grad schools over the past year -- I can tell you quite a bit about Georgia Tech, I didn't even know Jackson State had a Ph.D. program. You might have a perfectly good experience at Jackson State -- but when you're applying for grad schools, I suspect that the admissions committees will not have hear of it, either. That doesn't mean they won't accept you -- but it does mean that if get good grades, they won't matter (they'll use your GRE marks instead), and if you get poor grades, you'll be automatically eliminated. Finding research opportunities at Jackson State will be more difficult, also.

In short, Georgia Tech is probably the better choice -- but don't go somewhere that will make you miserable. If you're miserable then you'll do poor work, and it won't matter where you went to school!