FSW vs. GSU

Should I go to Florida SouthWestern State College or Governors State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if FSW 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

FGCU SCF Valencia College MDC University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Hodges University
Florida SouthWestern State College vs. Governors State University comparison
Florida SouthWestern State College Governors State University College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 FSW GSU
Location Fort Myers, FL University Park, IL
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 14,326 4,427
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website edison.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 FSW GSU
Tuition (In State) $2,436 $7,512
Tuition (Out of State) $9,750 $15,024
Room & Board $10,044 $11,000
Avg Net Price $7,792 $9,833
Avg Grant Aid $5,728 $11,987
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

 FSW GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,865
Admitted - 1,072
Acceptance Rate Open 57.5%
Enrolled % Open 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.06 4.0
Typical High School Grades B A/A+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 830/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 FSW GSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 27:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (5%)
  • Education (4%)

Outcomes

 FSW GSU
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $9,000 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $93 $178

Diversity

 FSW GSU
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 36%
% Black 11% 38%
% Hispanic 28% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 9%

Students

 FSW GSU
% In-State 92% 95%
% Out-of-State 0% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Florida SouthWestern State College is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (14,326 students vs. 4,427 students)

FSW vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FSW or GSU?

  • Governors State University is 208.4% more expensive to attend than FSW for in-state tuition ($7,512.00 vs. $2,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.1% higher at GSU than Florida SouthWestern State College ($15,024.00 vs. $9,750.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida SouthWestern State College than GSU ($7,792 vs. $9,833)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida SouthWestern State College are 9.5% lower than costs at Governors State University ($10,044 vs. $11,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Florida SouthWestern State College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 109.3% larger than aid received Florida SouthWestern State College ($11,987 vs. $5,728)

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

  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.94 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at FSW (3.06)

FSW vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FSW 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 FSW.

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than FSW graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $37,400)
  • Florida SouthWestern State College students graduate with a $8,250 lower median federal student loan debt than GSU graduates. ($9,000 vs. $17,250)
  • FSW graduates are paying $85 less per month on federal student loans than GSU graduates. ($93 vs. $178)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FSW students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 43%)

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