Alabama State vs. GSU

Should I go to Alabama State University or Governors State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama State or GSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama State University vs. Governors State University comparison
Alabama State University Governors State University College 3 College 4
Alabama State University
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Overview

Alabama State GSU
Location Montgomery, AL University Park, IL
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,828 4,427
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1016
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alasu.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama State GSU
Tuition (In State) $8,328 $7,512
Tuition (Out of State) $16,656 $15,024
Room & Board $6,050 $11,000
Avg Net Price $13,176 $9,833
Avg Grant Aid $10,029 $11,987
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Alabama State GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,731 1,865
Admitted 6,502 1,072
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 57.5%
Enrolled % 14.5% 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.95 4.0
Typical High School Grades B- A/A+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 828/1041 830/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Alabama State GSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Alabama State GSU
Graduation Rate 26% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,500 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $32,091 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $331 $178

Diversity

Alabama State GSU
% Men 35% 36%
% Women 65% 64%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 36%
% Black 93% 38%
% Hispanic 1% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 9%

Students

Alabama State GSU
% In-State 37% 95%
% Out-of-State 62% 3%

Campus

Alabama State GSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than Alabama State based on total student enrollment (4,427 students vs. 3,828 students)

Alabama State vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or GSU?

  • Alabama State University is 10.9% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($8,328.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.9% higher at Alabama State than Governors State University ($16,656.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Alabama State ($9,833 vs. $13,176)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 81.8% lower than costs at Governors State University ($6,050 vs. $11,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Alabama State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 19.5% larger than aid received Alabama State University ($11,987 vs. $10,029)

Alabama State vs. GSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or GSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GSU or Alabama State .

  • The average SAT score at Governors State University (911) is 67 points higher than at Alabama State (844)
  • Incoming GSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at Alabama State (18)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 1.05 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Alabama State (2.95)
  • Alabama State has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than GSU (57.5%)

Alabama State vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama State or GSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GSU and Alabama State.

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $13,100 more per year than Alabama State graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $29,500)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $14,841 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama State graduates. ($17,250 vs. $32,091)
  • GSU graduates are paying $153 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama State graduates. ($178 vs. $331)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/