GSU vs. ISU

Deciding between Governors State University and Illinois State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GSU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GSU
  • ISU No
  • Meal Plan
  • GSU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GSU Yes
  • ISU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GSU
  • ISU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with Illinois State University in Normal, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

GSU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or ISU? 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 Governors State University than ISU ($12,756 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 0.2% lower than at Illinois State University ($11,736 vs. $11,754).
  • Illinois State University is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSU (about $4,140 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 135% higher at ISU than at Governors State University (about $16,206 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Governors State University (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 13.3% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($12,974 vs. $11,455).

GSU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or ISU? 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 ISU and GSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 150 points higher than at GSU (950).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsIllinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027; ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 22.5% at ISU.

GSU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and ISU? 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 Illinois State University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($17,250 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($178 vs. $227).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 48%)

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.