CSU Stanislaus vs. GSU

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, 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 Stanislaus is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); Governors State University is in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; Governors State University 11:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than GSU ($7,433 vs. $12,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 10.6% lower than at California State University Stanislaus ($11,736 vs. $13,126).
• Governors State University is 45.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Stanislaus (about $3,758 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $8,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.7% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at Governors State University (about $8,842 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $12,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at Governors State University (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Stanislaus students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($12,492 vs. $11,455).

CSU Stanislaus vs. GSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 CSU Stanislaus.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGovernors State University 830/1060.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; GSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; GSU Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CSU Stanislaus (3.47).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than GSU (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 16.8% at GSU.

CSU Stanislaus vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than GSU graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GSU graduates ($155 vs. $178).
• More CSU Stanislaus graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.