Governors State University
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; freshman retention is below 65%. 52% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Governors State University is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois with approximately 2,518 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $9,477 per year. The graduation rate is 20%, and the typical graduate earns $44,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Governors State University is a public university in University Park, Illinois, United States. The 750 acres (3.0 km2) campus is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Chicago, Illinois. GSU was founded in 1969. It is a public university offering degree programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. GSU has four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, and the College of Health and Human Services.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $9,477/year after aid and only $14,000 in median debt at graduation, the cost is genuinely low — but a 20% graduation rate and 59% freshman retention rate are serious red flags suggesting many students who start here don't finish. Worth considering if you're a commuter student in the south Chicago suburbs who needs an affordable path to a specific program in business, education, or health services, and you have a clear plan to stay enrolled. Go in with eyes open and a strong support system.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 21% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Governors State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Social Work ($56,123 vs $51,790 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($79,154 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 96 | $59,562 | $68,257 | −$8,695 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 89 | $50,703 | $53,072 | −$2,369 |
| Psychology, General | 84 | $47,048 | $50,706 | −$3,658 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 50 | $55,811 | $55,378 | +$433 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 44 | $46,895 | $47,382 | −$487 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 40 | $61,223 | $76,194 | −$14,971 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 27 | $70,895 | $92,374 | −$21,479 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 25 | $53,227 | $58,716 | −$5,489 |
| Computer Science | 25 | $79,154 | $107,009 | −$27,855 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 24 | $47,475 | $56,359 | −$8,884 |
| Public Health | 22 | $51,027 | $58,808 | −$7,781 |
| Social Work | 19 | $56,123 | $51,790 | +$4,333 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,518 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Governors State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Governors State University cost?
The average net price at Governors State University is about $9,477 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Governors State University?
Governors State University has a graduation rate of 20%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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