GSU vs. WSSU

Deciding between Governors State University and Winston Salem State University? 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.

Winston Salem State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • WSSU Winston-Salem, NC
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • WSSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • WSSU 4,782
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • WSSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • WSSU #940
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • WSSU -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • WSSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • WSSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • WSSU $6,126
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • WSSU $16,782
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • WSSU $11,484
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • WSSU $12,989
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • WSSU $10,057
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • WSSU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • WSSU 9,108
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • WSSU 7,128
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • WSSU 78.3%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • WSSU 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • WSSU 930
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • WSSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • WSSU 3.01
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • WSSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • WSSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • WSSU
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • WSSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • WSSU 830/1020
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • WSSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • WSSU Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • WSSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • WSSU
    • Health Professions (50%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • WSSU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • WSSU $35,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • WSSU 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • WSSU $25,663
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • WSSU $265

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • WSSU 26%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • WSSU 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • WSSU Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • WSSU Yes
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • WSSU 16%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • WSSU 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • WSSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • WSSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • WSSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • WSSU 4%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • WSSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • WSSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • WSSU 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • WSSU 24%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GSU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GSU
  • WSSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • GSU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GSU Yes
  • WSSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • GSU
  • WSSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Winston Salem State University is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (4,782 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Winston Salem State University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Winston Salem State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; Winston Salem State University 15:1.

GSU vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or WSSU? 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 WSSU ($12,756 vs. $12,989).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 2.1% lower than at Governors State University ($11,484 vs. $11,736).
  • Governors State University is 96% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSSU (about $5,878 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $6,126.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.8% higher at WSSU than at Governors State University (about $4,778 more per year; $16,782.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Winston Salem State University than at Governors State University (91% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Winston Salem State University students ($11,455 vs. $10,057).

GSU vs. WSSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or WSSU? 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 WSSU and GSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Governors State University (950) is 20 points higher than at WSSU (930).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060; Winston Salem State University 830/1020.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWinston Salem State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; WSSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027; WSSU Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.99 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at WSSU (3.01).
  • WSSU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 13.1% at WSSU.

GSU vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and WSSU? 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 Governors State University earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than WSSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,600 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $8,413 lower median loan debt than WSSU graduates ($17,250 vs. $25,663).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSSU graduates ($178 vs. $265).
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 33%)

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.