Quad

Governors State University

University Park, ILQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forTest-optional heavyAverage cost down 35% since 2014–15
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Governors State admits about 1 in 2 applicants (48%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 85% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

48%

48%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

2,944

Admitted

1,421

Yield

17%

of admits enroll

Applications +657% since fall 2014 · admit rate 94% → 48%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,556 undergrads, where 54% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

2.6K

undergrads · larger than 64% of colleges

Diversity index

0.71

Pell Grant

54%

above the median

First generation

43%

above the median

Large suburbNAIA · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceStudy abroad
Steady · index 0.69 → 0.71 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (16% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 51% of faculty are full-time. Spends $13,036 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

Most popular major

Psychology, General

16% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$88.4K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

51%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$13K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $17,533 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $6.8K less than the national median. The 81% who received grants paid $12,756 on average; the other 19% paid the full sticker price of $26,780.

35%

$17.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $6.8K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$26,780 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 35% of full price

Federal loans

38%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −35% after inflation since 2014–15Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $58,169 ten years after enrolling, more than at 63% of colleges; 47% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.2 years of that salary.

47%

47%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$58.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$18.6K

≈ $197/month for 10 years

Retention

56%

come back for year two

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2014–15, the full price fell 22% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 35%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 657% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 94% to 48%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −35% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +657%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 94% → 48%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.69 → 0.71

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

East Central University

58% admit · SAT 1010 · 2.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public
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Texas A&M University-Texarkana

64% admit · 2K undergrads

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Rutgers University-Camden

66% admit · SAT 1175 · 3.8K undergrads

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University of Arkansas at Little Rock

59% admit · SAT 1085 · 4.9K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso public
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    Governors State University (2026)

    Governors State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 145336 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything