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Governors State University

#463 in US ranking University Park, IL
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$28,740
Tuition & fees
$14,506
Avg. aid
$11,149
Receiving aid
88%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
48%
Avg. SAT
945
Avg. ACT
19

Outcomes

Graduation rate
22%
Median salary
$44,688
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Governors State University?

Governors State University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of a particular degree program.

This status matters for access to federal student aid and for how other institutions may assess credits, although neither aid eligibility nor transfer-credit acceptance is automatic for every student. Students considering a licensed profession should also check their specific program's current accreditation and their intended state's licensing rules. Program-level standards are particularly important in fields such as nursing, social work, teacher education, and communication disorders.

What are the admission requirements at Governors State University?

First-year applicants to Governors State generally apply with evidence of high school completion or an accepted equivalent and information about their secondary-school academic work. The university is not an open-admission institution: an application must be reviewed before an offer of admission is made.

In reported admissions information, high school GPA and completion of a college-preparatory curriculum are required considerations. SAT and ACT scores are considered but are not required; class rank and recommendations are not generally required. International applicants or applicants educated in another language may face separate English-proficiency and transcript-documentation rules.

In one reported first-year admissions cycle, about 48% of applicants were admitted. That figure describes a past applicant group, not an individual applicant's chances. Requirements and deadlines may also differ for graduate applicants and for programs with clinical, licensure, portfolio, or other selective requirements.

What are the application fees and waivers at Governors State University?

The reported undergraduate application fee for Governors State University is $25. An application fee is separate from tuition, housing charges, and any later enrollment expenses.

Applicants who need a fee waiver should check the current application instructions before submitting payment; waiver eligibility and the method for requesting one can depend on the applicant category or application route. Graduate and program-specific applications may use different procedures or charges, so a prospective student should confirm the amount shown for the application they will actually submit.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Governors State University?

Air Force ROTC is reported as available to Governors State students through a cooperating host institution, rather than a unit operated directly on the Governors State campus. Participation through another college can require travel and coordination between two institutions' schedules.

Students interested in ROTC should confirm that the host detachment currently accepts Governors State cross-enrollment, which courses count toward their degree, and where training takes place. ROTC scholarships have separate eligibility and application rules; participation and commissioning can also carry military service obligations. Applicants interested in Army or Navy ROTC should not assume that an equivalent cross-enrollment arrangement exists without confirmation from the relevant unit.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Governors State University?

Governors State accepts transfer applications and generally considers credit from other accredited institutions. Its history as an upper-division university and its community-college partnerships make transfer planning especially relevant here.

Transfer applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended and to meet the admission standards for their intended program. A general offer of admission does not establish that every previous course will satisfy a major requirement. The university's transfer-credit evaluation determines how accepted courses apply to the degree, and programs with licensure or clinical components may have additional restrictions.

Reported transfer entry options include fall, spring, and summer. Governors State also reports accepting some credit-by-examination and evaluated prior-learning credit, including CLEP and DSST, subject to its policies. Students transferring from an Illinois community college can ask about the university's Dual Degree Program and obtain a written degree audit before deciding which remaining courses to take.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Governors State University?

Students interested in studying abroad should determine which international opportunities Governors State currently approves for their degree program. The available destination, length of study, and academic arrangement can change, and a program run by a third-party provider is not necessarily operated by the university.

Before paying a deposit, a student should obtain approval for how proposed courses will count toward general education, major, or elective requirements. They should also ask the study-abroad or international education adviser how financial aid, scholarships, passport and visa requirements, insurance, and any required clinical or licensure coursework would be handled. That advance review is particularly important for students with a tightly sequenced degree plan.

Governors State University Admissions Factors

Avg. SAT
945
Avg. ACT
19
Acceptance rate
48%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
48%
Illinois
77%
US
78%

17% of admitted students enrolled (239 of 1,421)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17

Governors State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 2,944
Admission
Total: 1,421
Enrolled
Total: 239
Women
Men

How to Apply to Governors State University

Regular application deadline

April 1

Application fee

$25

Early Decision

Yes, deadline November 15

Early Action

No

Governors State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 228
Out-of-state: 8

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 239
Transfer: 547

Governors State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

945

Median composite ACT score

19

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Neither required nor recommended

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Considered but not required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Governors State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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