Governors State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in University Park, Illinois. It enrolls 2,556 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes5
Value90
Affordability87
Selectivity45
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 48.3%, Governors State University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
48.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Governors State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Governors State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,329 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,329
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
54%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
38%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$12,004
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,736
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,736
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,227
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,563
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,933
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,705
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,741
Over $110,000
$22,076
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$18,618Medianpercentile
$24,30075%percentile
$34,55490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,250
↓ $3,368
No Pell $12,292
↓ $6,326
Dependent students $11,250
↓ $7,368
Independent students $18,000
↓ $618
Female students $14,332
↓ $4,286
Male students $13,000
↓ $5,618
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,266, less than completers ($18,618), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at Governors State University graduate within six years, and 58% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Governors State University earn a median of $58,169 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,169
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,700, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Governors State University is home to 2,556 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,556
Part-Time
32%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 40.7%1,039
White 28.0%716
Hispanic 19.9%509
Other 4.4%111
International 2.2%56
Asian 2.1%53
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Governors State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbUniversity Park, Illinois
Housing
Limited on-campus housing280 beds
Adult Learners
42%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
Governors State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Governors State University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$16,001
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,350
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
240 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
40
17%
$101,832
Associate Professors
66
28%
$87,348
Assistant Professors
64
27%
$73,712
Instructors
4
2%
$77,188
Lecturers
57
24%
$60,036
No Rank
9
4%
$57,483
Pros & Cons of Governors State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Governors State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Frequently Asked Questions about Governors State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Governors State University.
Is Governors State University hard to get into?
Governors State University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 48.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Governors State University?
Governors State University has an acceptance rate of 48.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Governors State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Governors State University is $12,329 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Governors State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,169 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,329 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Governors State University known for?
Governors State University is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Business Administration, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Governors State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Governors State University are $58,169, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Governors State University accredited?
Yes. Governors State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Governors State University?
Governors State University enrolls 2,556 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Governors State University?
Governors State University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Governors State University a public or private college?
Governors State University is a Public institution.
Where is Governors State University located?
Governors State University is located in University Park, Illinois.
What programs does Governors State University offer?
Governors State University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Business Administration, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Governors State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Governors State University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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