Gordon vs. CSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Charleston Southern University is larger than Gordon based on total student enrollment (3,832 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); Charleston Southern University is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; Charleston Southern University 12:1.

Gordon vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon State College than CSU ($7,807 vs. $21,080).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 14.4% lower than at Charleston Southern University ($10,444 vs. $12,200).
• Charleston Southern University is 796.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $28,892 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 197% higher at CSU than at Gordon State College (about $21,572 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charleston Southern University than at Gordon State College (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 259.6% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($23,240 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and Gordon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Charleston Southern University (1050) is 40 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming CSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at Gordon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; Charleston Southern University 930/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; Charleston Southern University 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; CSU - Test optional.
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Gordon (85.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 17.7% at CSU.

Gordon vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Charleston Southern University earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $9,500 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($17,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($180 vs. $279).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.