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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Governors State University | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GSU | ISU | ||
| Location | University Park, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,337 | 20,989 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | govst.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GSU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,872 | $12,066 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,872 | $24,131 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,360 | $11,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $10,833 | $20,871 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,315 | $11,590 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 90% | 96% |
Admission |
GSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | 20,884 | ||
| Admitted | - | 18,589 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | |||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 830/1060 | 1010/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
GSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
GSU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 48% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,250 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $178 | $227 |
Diversity |
GSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 27% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 36% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 38% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 9% | 0% |
Students |
GSU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 3% | ||
Campus |
GSU | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 4,337 students)
GSU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GSU or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 53.3% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- Out of state tuition is 206.5% higher at ISU than Governors State University ($24,131.00 vs. $7,872.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than ISU ($10,833 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 2% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($11,360 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Governors State University (96% vs. 90%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 2.4% larger than aid received Governors State University ($11,590 vs. $11,315)
Which college is harder to get into, GSU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or GSU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 179 points higher than at GSU (911)
- Incoming ISU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at GSU (19)
- Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.59 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at ISU (3.41)
GSU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, GSU or ISU? 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 ISU and GSU.
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $6,400 more per year than GSU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $42,600)
- Governors State University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than ISU graduates. ($17,250 vs. $22,000)
- GSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans 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/