Governors State University (GSU)
Public four-year university in University Park, IL that costs an average of $15,833 a year after financial aid, admits 48% of applicants and graduates 23% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$15,833
Acceptance rate
48%
Graduation rate
23%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$61,863
PublicLarge suburb2,556 undergraduates
Cost of GSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $28,740 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $13,124 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $12,129 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average net price after aid | $15,833 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $13,403 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $13,369 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $13,326 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $22,036 |
| $110,001+ | $23,297 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with GSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 48% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 23% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 56% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $48,165 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $61,863 |
| Rank in Illinois (earnings) | 32nd of 65 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $18,750 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $213 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 58% |
| Students with federal loans | 38% |
Majors and programs at GSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (27)
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (32)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 45 | $96,644 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 50 | $79,606 | $25,900 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 45 | $78,867 | $40,185 |
| Public Administration | 25 | $70,269 | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 52 | $68,639 | $51,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 53 | $63,448 | $41,000 |
| Social Work | 72 | $57,830 | $33,700 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 40 | $55,340 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 80 | $54,480 | $56,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 25 | — | — |
| Biology | 2 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 9 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 300 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 65 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 16 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 3 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 6 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 8 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 3 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 18 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 21 | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 76 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 11 | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | 94 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Psychology | 20 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 11 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 10 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $81,591 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 16 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 14 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 59 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (13)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 9 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 2 | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 1 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 10 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 2 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Illinois
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | $7,528 | 86% | $64,479 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $9,377 | 75% | $56,278 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $12,717 | 65% | $55,885 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | $10,018 | 71% | $57,175 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | $7,273 | 43% | $48,395 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $12,554 | 87% | $57,388 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $13,111 | 98% | $59,436 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | $14,505 | 70% | $61,351 |
About GSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | University Park, IL |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 2,556 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 11 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | govst.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is GSU's acceptance rate?
Governors State University admits 48% of applicants, making it selective.
How much does GSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $28,740 a year (tuition and fees: $13,124). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $15,833 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $13,403.
How much do GSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $61,863 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 32nd of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($95,568 a year after graduation).
What is GSU's graduation rate?
23% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 56% of first-year students return for a second year.