Elmhurst College vs. GSU

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Governors State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College or GSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Elmhurst College vs. Governors State University comparison
Elmhurst College Governors State University College 3 College 4
Elmhurst College
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Overview

Elmhurst College GSU
Location Elmhurst, IL University Park, IL
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,906 4,337
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #386
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu govst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College GSU
Tuition (In State) $41,258 $7,872
Tuition (Out of State) $41,258 $7,872
Room & Board $11,858 $11,360
Avg Net Price $22,760 $10,833
Avg Grant Aid $29,445 $11,315
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 90%

Admission

Elmhurst College GSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,254 -
Admitted 4,737 -
Acceptance Rate 75.7%
Enrolled % 12.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/28
SAT Range 960/1210 830/1060
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026

Academics

Elmhurst College GSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College GSU
Graduation Rate 70% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $42,600
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $17,250
Median Loan Payment $222 $178

Diversity

Elmhurst College GSU
% Men 7% 15%
% Women 12% 27%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 36%
% Black 5% 38%
% Hispanic 17% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

Elmhurst College GSU
% In-State 78% 95%
% Out-of-State 13% 3%

Campus

Elmhurst College GSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (4,337 students vs. 3,906 students)

Elmhurst College vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or GSU?

  • Elmhurst College is 424.1% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($41,258.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 424.1% higher at Elmhurst College than Governors State University ($41,258.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than Elmhurst College ($10,833 vs. $22,760)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 4.4% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($11,360 vs. $11,858)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College than Governors State University (99% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 160.2% larger than aid received Governors State University ($29,445 vs. $11,315)

Which college is harder to get into, Elmhurst College or GSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GSU or Elmhurst College .

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 179 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Elmhurst College (3.59)

Elmhurst College vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College or GSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GSU and Elmhurst College.

  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $7,600 more per year than GSU graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $42,600)
  • Governors State University students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Elmhurst College graduates. ($17,250 vs. $21,500)
  • GSU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Elmhurst College graduates. ($178 vs. $222)
  • More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/