GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Deciding between Governors State University and University of Wisconsin Whitewater? 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 Whitewater

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 11,746
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater #838
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $8,616
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $18,716
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $8,090
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $12,709
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $5,685
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 10,187
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 85.7%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
    • Business (36%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $44,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $24,971
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 49%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 82%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 2%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 6%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 5%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Whitewater is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (11,746 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 Whitewater is in Whitewater, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; University of Wisconsin Whitewater 21:1.

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or University of Wisconsin-Whitewater? 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 University of Wisconsin Whitewater than GSU ($12,709 vs. $12,756).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Whitewater are 31.1% lower than at Governors State University ($8,090 vs. $11,736).
  • Governors State University is 39.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (about $3,388 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $8,616.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.9% higher at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater than at Governors State University (about $6,712 more per year; $18,716.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Governors State University than at University of Wisconsin Whitewater (81% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 101.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Whitewater students ($11,455 vs. $5,685).

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or University of Wisconsin-Whitewater? 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-Whitewater 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 Whitewater 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - 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 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (3.3).
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a higher acceptance rate (85.7%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 24.7% at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

GSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater? 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 Whitewater earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $7,721 lower median loan debt than University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates ($17,250 vs. $24,971).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates ($178 vs. $258).
  • More University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.