GSU vs. Marian

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

 GSU Marian
Location University Park, IL Indianapolis, IN
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 4,427 3,701
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu marian.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GSU Marian
Tuition (In State) $7,512 $37,600
Tuition (Out of State) $15,024 $37,600
Room & Board $11,000 $12,000
Avg Net Price $9,833 $22,554
Avg Grant Aid $11,987 $28,904
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 GSU Marian
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,865 1,997
Admitted 1,072 1,874
Acceptance Rate 57.5% 93.8%
Enrolled % 29.5% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.56
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 830/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 GSU Marian
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (55%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

 GSU Marian
Graduation Rate - 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $178 $279

Diversity

 GSU Marian
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 36% 72%
% Black 38% 12%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 9% 4%

Students

 GSU Marian
% In-State 95% 87%
% Out-of-State 3% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than Marian based on total student enrollment (4,427 students vs. 3,701 students)

GSU vs. Marian Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or Marian?

  • Marian University is 400.5% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($37,600.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 150.3% higher at Marian than Governors State University ($37,600.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Marian ($9,833 vs. $22,554)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 9.1% lower than costs at Marian University ($11,000 vs. $12,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University as Marian University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 141.1% larger than aid received Governors State University ($28,904 vs. $11,987)

GSU vs. Marian Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marian University (1026) is 115 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming Marian students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Marian (3.56)
  • Marian has a higher acceptance rate (93.8%) than GSU (57.5%)

GSU vs. Marian Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU or Marian? 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 Marian and GSU.

  • Graduates from Marian University earn on average $2,200 more per year than GSU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $42,600)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $9,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Marian graduates. ($17,250 vs. $27,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $101 less per month on federal student loans than Marian graduates. ($178 vs. $279)
  • More Marian graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 48%)

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