Georgia State vs. CSU

Deciding between Georgia State University and Charleston Southern 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.

Georgia State University
Charleston Southern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgia State Atlanta, GA
  • CSU Charleston, SC
  • Setting
  • Georgia State Large City
  • CSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgia State 34,944
  • CSU 3,832
  • Type
  • Georgia State Public 4 Year
  • CSU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgia State #763
  • CSU #952
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgia State -
  • CSU Baptist
  • Status
  • Georgia State Non-profit
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgia State
  • CSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgia State $8,664
  • CSU $32,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgia State $24,840
  • CSU $32,520
  • Room & Board
  • Georgia State $13,392
  • CSU $12,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgia State $16,854
  • CSU $21,080
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgia State $12,052
  • CSU $23,240
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgia State 94%
  • CSU 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgia State 33,447
  • CSU 4,660
  • Admitted
  • Georgia State 18,543
  • CSU 4,495
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgia State 55.4%
  • CSU 96.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgia State 22.7%
  • CSU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgia State 1060
  • CSU 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgia State 22
  • CSU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgia State 3.54
  • CSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgia State A-
  • CSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgia State Easy
  • CSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgia State Low
  • CSU
  • ACT Range
  • Georgia State 19/26
  • CSU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • Georgia State 940/1180
  • CSU 930/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgia State Required
  • CSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgia State Apr 1, 2027
  • CSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgia State 25:1
  • CSU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgia State
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • CSU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgia State 47%
  • CSU 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgia State $46,200
  • CSU $39,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgia State 45%
  • CSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgia State $23,699
  • CSU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgia State $245
  • CSU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgia State 39%
  • CSU 37%
  • % Women
  • Georgia State 61%
  • CSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgia State Very High
  • CSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Georgia State No
  • CSU No
  • % White
  • Georgia State 26%
  • CSU 61%
  • % Asian
  • Georgia State 12%
  • CSU 2%
  • % Black
  • Georgia State 42%
  • CSU 26%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgia State 10%
  • CSU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Georgia State 0%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgia State 0%
  • CSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgia State 5%
  • CSU 2%
  • % International
  • Georgia State 2%
  • CSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgia State 3%
  • CSU 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgia State 79%
  • CSU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgia State 11%
  • CSU 28%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Georgia State Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Georgia State No
  • CSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Georgia State Yes
  • CSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Georgia State No
  • CSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Georgia State Yes
  • CSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA with Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Georgia State University is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (34,944 students vs. 3,832 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); Charleston Southern University is in Charleston, SC (Small City setting).
  • Georgia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Charleston Southern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Georgia State University 25:1; Charleston Southern University 12:1.

Georgia State vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia State or CSU? 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 Georgia State University than CSU ($16,854 vs. $21,080).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 8.9% lower than at Georgia State University ($12,200 vs. $13,392).
  • Charleston Southern University is 275.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Georgia State (about $23,856 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $8,664.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at CSU than at Georgia State University (about $7,680 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $24,840.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charleston Southern University than at Georgia State University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 92.8% larger than aid received by Georgia State University students ($23,240 vs. $12,052).

Georgia State vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgia State or CSU? 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 CSU and Georgia State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Georgia State University (1060) is 10 points higher than at CSU (1050).
  • Incoming Georgia State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 940/1180; Charleston Southern University 930/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Georgia State University 19/26; Charleston Southern University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgia State - Required; CSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Georgia State Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgia State students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at CSU (3.24).
  • CSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Georgia State (55.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Georgia State vs. 17.7% at CSU.

Georgia State vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgia State and CSU? 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).

  • Georgia State University's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Charleston Southern University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Georgia State University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Georgia State University graduates have a $3,301 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($23,699 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Georgia State graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($245 vs. $279).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia State students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 45%)

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.