GSU vs. KY State

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

 GSU KY State
Location University Park, IL Frankfort, KY
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 4,337 1,689
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1018
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu kysu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GSU KY State
Tuition (In State) $7,872 $8,088
Tuition (Out of State) $7,872 $12,134
Room & Board $11,360 $8,186
Avg Net Price $10,833 $9,672
Avg Grant Aid $11,315 $9,850
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 98%

Admission

 GSU KY State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,001
Admitted - 1,852
Acceptance Rate 92.6%
Enrolled % 18.6%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 2.72
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/20
SAT Range 830/1060 820/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 GSU KY State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 GSU KY State
Graduation Rate - 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $31,000
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 24%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $178 $299

Diversity

 GSU KY State
% Men 15% 4%
% Women 27% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No Yes
% White 36% 27%
% Black 38% 57%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 9%

Students

 GSU KY State
% In-State 95% 35%
% Out-of-State 3% 64%

Campus

 GSU KY State
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 KY State based on total student enrollment (4,337 students vs. 1,689 students)

GSU vs. KY State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or KY State?

  • Kentucky State University is 2.7% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($8,088.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.1% higher at KY State than Governors State University ($12,134.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kentucky State University than GSU ($9,672 vs. $10,833)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 38.8% lower than costs at Governors State University ($8,186 vs. $11,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kentucky State University than Governors State University (98% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 14.9% larger than aid received Kentucky State University ($11,315 vs. $9,850)

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

  • The average SAT score at Kentucky State University (931) is 20 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming KY State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 1.28 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at KY State (2.72)

GSU vs. KY State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU or KY 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 KY State and GSU.

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $11,600 more per year than KY State graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $31,000)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $11,750 lower median federal student loan debt than KY State graduates. ($17,250 vs. $29,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $121 less per month on federal student loans than KY State graduates. ($178 vs. $299)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 24%)

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