GSU vs. KWC

Deciding between Governors State University and Kentucky Wesleyan College? 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.

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • KWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • KWC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • KWC $25,538
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • KWC 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • KWC 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • KWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • KWC 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • KWC
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • KWC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • KWC $236
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • KWC 50%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • KWC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • KWC Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • KWC No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • KWC 73%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • KWC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • KWC 1%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • KWC 9%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • KWC 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • KWC 38%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Governors State University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (4,397 students vs. 887 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

GSU vs. KWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or KWC? 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 KWC ($12,756 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 1% lower than at Kentucky Wesleyan College ($11,736 vs. $11,855).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 188.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSU (about $22,669 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 188.8% higher at KWC than at Governors State University (about $22,669 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Governors State University (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 122.9% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($25,538 vs. $11,455).

GSU vs. KWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1010) is 60 points higher than at GSU (950).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060; Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; KWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 17.7% at KWC.

GSU vs. KWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and KWC? 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 Governors State University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,600 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $5,657 lower median loan debt than KWC graduates ($17,250 vs. $22,907).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KWC graduates ($178 vs. $236).
  • More KWC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.