Pensacola State vs. GSU

Should I go to Pensacola State College or Governors State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pensacola State or GSU 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.
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Florida
Pensacola State College vs. Governors State University comparison
Pensacola State College Governors State University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Pensacola State GSU
Location Pensacola, FL University Park, IL
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 7,981 4,427
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pensacolastate.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Pensacola State GSU
Tuition (In State) $1,888 $7,512
Tuition (Out of State) $7,551 $15,024
Room & Board $9,486 $11,000
Avg Net Price $3,305 $9,833
Avg Grant Aid $5,663 $11,987
% Receiving Grant Aid 67% 100%

Admission

 Pensacola State GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,865
Admitted - 1,072
Acceptance Rate Open 57.5%
Enrolled % Open 29.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.54 4.0
Typical High School Grades C+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 830/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2025 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

 Pensacola State GSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Engineering Technology (3%)

Outcomes

 Pensacola State GSU
Graduation Rate - -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,300 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $3,500 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $36 $178

Diversity

 Pensacola State GSU
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 36%
% Black 16% 38%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

 Pensacola State GSU
% In-State 94% 95%
% Out-of-State 5% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pensacola State College is larger than than GSU based on total student enrollment (7,981 students vs. 4,427 students)

Pensacola State vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pensacola State or GSU?

  • Governors State University is 297.9% more expensive to attend than Pensacola State for in-state tuition ($7,512.00 vs. $1,888.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99% higher at GSU than Pensacola State College ($15,024.00 vs. $7,551.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pensacola State College than GSU ($3,305 vs. $9,833)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pensacola State College are 16% lower than costs at Governors State University ($9,486 vs. $11,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Governors State University than Pensacola State College (100% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Governors State University students is 111.7% larger than aid received Pensacola State College ($11,987 vs. $5,663)

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

  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 1.46 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Pensacola State (2.54)

Pensacola State vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pensacola State or GSU? 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 GSU and Pensacola State.

  • Graduates from Governors State University earn on average $12,300 more per year than Pensacola State graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $30,300)
  • Pensacola State College students graduate with a $13,750 lower median federal student loan debt than GSU graduates. ($3,500 vs. $17,250)
  • Pensacola State graduates are paying $142 less per month on federal student loans than GSU graduates. ($36 vs. $178)
  • More GSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pensacola State students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 46%)

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