GSU vs. UIU

Should I go to Governors State University or Upper Iowa University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GSU or UIU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

ISU OU Wartburg College St. Ambrose University Northern Illinois William Penn University University of Sioux Falls UNI DePaul
Governors State University vs. Upper Iowa University comparison
Governors State University Upper Iowa University College 3 College 4
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 GSU UIU
Location University Park, IL Fayette, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Rural
Enrollment 4,427 3,072
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #737
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu uiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GSU UIU
Tuition (In State) $7,512 $32,589
Tuition (Out of State) $15,024 $32,589
Room & Board $11,000 $9,644
Avg Net Price $9,833 $24,563
Avg Grant Aid $11,987 $25,788
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 GSU UIU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,865 1,405
Admitted 1,072 762
Acceptance Rate 57.5% 54.2%
Enrolled % 29.5% 28.3%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.34
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 830/1060 890/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 GSU UIU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (40%)
  • Human Services (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

 GSU UIU
Graduation Rate - 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $178 $248

Diversity

 GSU UIU
% Men 36% 41%
% Women 64% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 36% 66%
% Black 38% 19%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 9% 3%

Students

 GSU UIU
% In-State 95% 49%
% Out-of-State 3% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than UIU based on total student enrollment (4,427 students vs. 3,072 students)

GSU vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or UIU?

  • Upper Iowa University is 333.8% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($32,589.00 vs. $7,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.9% higher at UIU than Governors State University ($32,589.00 vs. $15,024.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than UIU ($9,833 vs. $24,563)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 14.1% lower than costs at Governors State University ($9,644 vs. $11,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University as Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 115.1% larger than aid received Governors State University ($25,788 vs. $11,987)

GSU vs. UIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Upper Iowa University (930) is 19 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming UIU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UIU (3.34)
  • GSU has a higher acceptance rate (57.5%) than UIU (54.2%)

GSU vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $500 more per year than UIU graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $42,100)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UIU graduates. ($17,250 vs. $24,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than UIU graduates. ($178 vs. $248)
  • More UIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 48%)

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