GSU vs. Iowa Wesleyan College

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

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
Location University Park, IL Mount Pleasant, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 4,427 871
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu iwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $7,512 $33,550
Tuition (Out of State) $15,024 $33,550
Room & Board $11,000 $11,340
Avg Net Price $9,833 $20,074
Avg Grant Aid $11,987 $26,670
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,865 2,975
Admitted 1,072 2,404
Acceptance Rate 57.5% 80.8%
Enrolled % 29.5% 8%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.02
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1060 830/1010
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 Apr 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate - 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $36,900
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $178 $258

Diversity

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
% Men 36% 56%
% Women 64% 44%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 36% 52%
% Black 38% 9%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 9% 24%

Students

GSU Iowa Wesleyan College
% In-State 95% 25%
% Out-of-State 3% 60%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (4,427 students vs. 871 students)

GSU vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or Iowa Wesleyan College?

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is 346.6% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($33,550.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.3% higher at Iowa Wesleyan College than Governors State University ($33,550.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Iowa Wesleyan College ($9,833 vs. $20,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 3.1% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($11,000 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Iowa Wesleyan College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Wesleyan College students is 122.5% larger than aid received Governors State University ($26,670 vs. $11,987)

GSU vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Iowa Wesleyan College (949) is 38 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming Iowa Wesleyan College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.98 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than GSU (57.5%)

GSU vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU or Iowa Wesleyan College? 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 Iowa Wesleyan College and GSU.

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $5,700 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $36,900)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $7,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($17,250 vs. $25,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($178 vs. $258)
  • More Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 48%)

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