GSU- Grambling vs. VSU

Deciding between Grambling State University and Virginia 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.

Grambling State University
Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU- Grambling Grambling, LA
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • GSU- Grambling Rural Fringe
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU- Grambling 5,150
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • GSU- Grambling Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU- Grambling #1018
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU- Grambling -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • GSU- Grambling Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU- Grambling
  • VSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU- Grambling $7,683
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU- Grambling $16,706
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • GSU- Grambling $10,990
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU- Grambling $17,018
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU- Grambling $8,870
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU- Grambling 95%
  • VSU 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU- Grambling 12,976
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • GSU- Grambling 5,821
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU- Grambling 44.9%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU- Grambling 18%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU- Grambling 1000
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU- Grambling 17
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU- Grambling 3.01
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU- Grambling B
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU- Grambling Extremely Easy
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU- Grambling Low
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • GSU- Grambling 15/19
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • GSU- Grambling 920/1080
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU- Grambling Required
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU- Grambling
  • VSU May 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU- Grambling 25:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU- Grambling
    • Business (22%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (15%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU- Grambling 27%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU- Grambling $32,400
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU- Grambling 23%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU- Grambling $37,997
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU- Grambling $392
  • VSU $305
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU- Grambling 37%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • GSU- Grambling 63%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU- Grambling Extremely Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • GSU- Grambling Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • GSU- Grambling 1%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • GSU- Grambling 0%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • GSU- Grambling 91%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU- Grambling 1%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • GSU- Grambling 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU- Grambling 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU- Grambling 2%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • GSU- Grambling 4%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU- Grambling 1%
  • VSU 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU- Grambling 43%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU- Grambling 35%
  • VSU 31%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Grambling State University in Grambling, LA with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia State University is larger than GSU- Grambling based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 5,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grambling State University is located in Grambling, LA (Rural Fringe setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Grambling State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Grambling State University 25:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

GSU- Grambling vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU- Grambling or VSU? 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 Grambling State University than VSU ($17,018 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grambling State University are 17.7% lower than at Virginia State University ($10,990 vs. $13,355).
  • Virginia State University is 30.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSU- Grambling (about $2,360 more per year; $10,043.00 vs. $7,683.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.6% higher at VSU than at Grambling State University (about $5,944 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $16,706.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grambling State University than at Virginia State University (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 40.3% larger than aid received by Grambling State University students ($12,447 vs. $8,870).

GSU- Grambling vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU- Grambling or VSU? 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 VSU and GSU- Grambling.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grambling State University (1000) is 40 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Incoming GSU- Grambling students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 17) as students at VSU (17).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grambling State University 920/1080; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grambling State University 15/19; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU- Grambling - Required; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU- Grambling students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.01) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than GSU- Grambling (44.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at GSU- Grambling vs. 14.3% at VSU.

GSU- Grambling vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU- Grambling and VSU? 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).

  • Virginia State University's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Grambling State University's (27%).
  • Graduates from Virginia State University earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than GSU- Grambling graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia State University graduates have a $8,497 lower median loan debt than GSU- Grambling graduates ($29,500 vs. $37,997).
  • Among borrowers, VSU graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GSU- Grambling graduates ($305 vs. $392).
  • More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU- Grambling students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 23%)

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.