GSU vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato

Deciding between Governors State University and Minnesota State University Mankato? 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.

Minnesota State University Mankato

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 15,271
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato #789
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $9,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $18,942
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $12,420
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $18,861
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $5,325
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 78%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 9,098
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 8,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 88.4%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 29.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $46,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $22,575
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato $233
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 42%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 76%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 4%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 4%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 3%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato 16%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GSU Yes
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato No
  • Meal Plan
  • GSU Yes
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GSU Yes
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GSU
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with Minnesota State University Mankato in Mankato, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota State University Mankato is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (15,271 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Minnesota State University Mankato is in Mankato, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Minnesota State University Mankato is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Minnesota State University Mankato 21:1.

GSU vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or Minnesota State University-Mankato? 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato ($12,756 vs. $18,861).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 5.5% lower than at Minnesota State University Mankato ($11,736 vs. $12,420).
  • Governors State University is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Minnesota State University-Mankato (about $2,432 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.8% higher at Minnesota State University-Mankato than at Governors State University (about $6,938 more per year; $18,942.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Governors State University than at Minnesota State University Mankato (81% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 115.1% larger than aid received by Minnesota State University Mankato students ($11,455 vs. $5,325).

GSU vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or Minnesota State University-Mankato? 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato and GSU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMinnesota State University Mankato 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; Minnesota State University-Mankato - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Minnesota State University-Mankato (3.37).
  • Minnesota State University-Mankato has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 29.4% at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

GSU vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and Minnesota State University-Mankato? 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 Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $5,325 lower median loan debt than Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates ($17,250 vs. $22,575).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates ($178 vs. $233).
  • More Minnesota State University-Mankato graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.