GS vs. Georgia State

Should I go to Georgia Southern University or Georgia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GS or Georgia State 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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Georgia Southern University vs. Georgia State University comparison
Georgia Southern University Georgia State University College 3 College 4
Georgia Southern University Georgia State University
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Overview

 GS Georgia State
Location Statesboro, GA Atlanta, GA
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 26,041 34,974
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #931 #720
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website georgiasouthern.edu gsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GS Georgia State
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $7,158
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $22,389
Room & Board $10,993 $16,328
Avg Net Price $16,957 $16,390
Avg Grant Aid $8,075 $10,928
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 93%

Admission

 GS Georgia State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,410 30,230
Admitted 12,916 18,826
Acceptance Rate 89.6% 62.3%
Enrolled % 36.8% 24.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.54
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 19/26
SAT Range 980/1160 1040/1280
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 May 1, 2026 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 GS Georgia State
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 25:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

 GS Georgia State
Graduation Rate 47% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $46,200
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $23,699
Median Loan Payment $237 $245

Diversity

 GS Georgia State
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 10% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 26%
% Black 26% 42%
% Hispanic 5% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 GS Georgia State
% In-State 91% 86%
% Out-of-State 7% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Georgia State University is larger than than GS based on total student enrollment (34,974 students vs. 26,041 students)

GS vs. Georgia State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GS or Georgia State?

  • Georgia State University is 63.8% more expensive to attend than GS for in-state tuition ($7,158.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.1% higher at Georgia State than Georgia Southern University ($22,389.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia State University than GS ($16,390 vs. $16,957)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southern University are 48.5% lower than costs at Georgia State University ($10,993 vs. $16,328)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia State University than Georgia Southern University (93% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Georgia State University students is 35.3% larger than aid received Georgia Southern University ($10,928 vs. $8,075)

GS vs. Georgia State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Georgia Southern University (1089) is 33 points higher than at Georgia State (1056)
  • Incoming GS students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Georgia State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Georgia State students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at GS (3.36)
  • GS has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than Georgia State (62.3%)

GS vs. Georgia State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GS or Georgia State? 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 Georgia State and GS.

  • The graduation rate at GS is the same as at Georgia State University (47% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Georgia State University earn on average $1,400 more per year than GS graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $44,800)
  • Georgia Southern University students graduate with a $699 lower median federal student loan debt than Georgia State graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,699)
  • GS graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Georgia State graduates. ($237 vs. $245)
  • More GS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia State students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 45%)

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