Cal State East Bay vs. GSU

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA with Governors State University in University Park, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University East Bay is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); Governors State University is in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University East Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University East Bay 22:1; Governors State University 11:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay or GSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University East Bay than GSU ($9,850 vs. $12,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 34.2% lower than at California State University East Bay ($11,736 vs. $17,831).
• Governors State University is 58.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $4,421 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.1% higher at Cal State East Bay than at Governors State University (about $8,179 more per year; $20,183.00 vs. $12,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Governors State University than at California State University East Bay (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 8% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($12,369 vs. $11,455).

Cal State East Bay vs. GSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay or GSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between GSU and Cal State East Bay.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGovernors State University 830/1060.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; GSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; GSU Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• Cal State East Bay has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than GSU (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.9% at Cal State East Bay vs. 16.8% at GSU.

Cal State East Bay vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay and GSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University East Bay graduates have a $918 lower median loan debt than GSU graduates ($16,332 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, Cal State East Bay graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GSU graduates ($168 vs. $178).
• More Cal State East Bay graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.