GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Deciding between Governors State University and University of Wisconsin River Falls? 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.

University of Wisconsin River Falls

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 37%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 47%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 52%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Meal Plan
  • GSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GSU Yes
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with University of Wisconsin River Falls in River Falls, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin River Falls is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (5,243 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($12,756 vs. $14,769).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 32% lower than at Governors State University ($7,982 vs. $11,736).
  • Governors State University is 33.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (about $2,996 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,008.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at University of Wisconsin-River Falls than at Governors State University (about $5,466 more per year; $17,470.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Governors State University as at University of Wisconsin River Falls (81% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 174.3% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($11,455 vs. $4,176).

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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 University of Wisconsin-River Falls 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 studentsUniversity of Wisconsin River Falls 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-River Falls - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Wisconsin-River Falls (3.44).
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and University of Wisconsin-River Falls? 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 University of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $5,475 lower median loan debt than University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates ($17,250 vs. $22,725).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates ($178 vs. $234).
  • More University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.