GSU vs. CCS

Deciding between Governors State University and College for Creative Studies? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College for Creative Studies

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GSU University Park, IL
  • CCS Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • GSU Rural Fringe
  • CCS Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • GSU 4,397
  • CCS 1,433
  • Type
  • GSU Public 4 Year
  • CCS Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GSU
  • CCS
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GSU -
  • CCS -
  • Status
  • GSU Non-profit
  • CCS Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GSU
  • CCS

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • CCS $53,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GSU $12,004
  • CCS $53,350
  • Room & Board
  • GSU $11,736
  • CCS $15,272
  • Average Net Price
  • GSU $12,756
  • CCS $36,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GSU $11,455
  • CCS $30,108
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GSU 81%
  • CCS 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GSU 2,944
  • CCS 1,079
  • Admitted
  • GSU 1,421
  • CCS 992
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GSU 48.3%
  • CCS 91.9%
  • Enrolled
  • GSU 16.8%
  • CCS 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • GSU 950
  • CCS
  • Typical ACT score
  • GSU
  • CCS
  • Average High School GPA
  • GSU 4.0
  • CCS 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GSU A/A+
  • CCS B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • GSU Extremely Easy
  • CCS Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GSU Low
  • CCS
  • ACT Range
  • GSU
  • CCS
  • SAT Range
  • GSU 830/1060
  • CCS
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GSU Test optional
  • CCS Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • GSU Apr 1, 2027
  • CCS

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GSU 11:1
  • CCS 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GSU
  • CCS
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (13%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GSU -
  • CCS 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GSU $42,600
  • CCS $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GSU 48%
  • CCS 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GSU $17,250
  • CCS $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GSU $178
  • CCS $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GSU 36%
  • CCS 34%
  • % Women
  • GSU 64%
  • CCS 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GSU High
  • CCS Medium
  • HBCU
  • GSU No
  • CCS No
  • % White
  • GSU 36%
  • CCS 58%
  • % Asian
  • GSU 1%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Black
  • GSU 38%
  • CCS 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • GSU 11%
  • CCS 4%
  • % Native American
  • GSU 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GSU 0%
  • CCS 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GSU 2%
  • CCS 4%
  • % International
  • GSU 1%
  • CCS 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GSU 9%
  • CCS 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GSU 95%
  • CCS 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GSU 3%
  • CCS 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GSU Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GSU
  • CCS No
  • Meal Plan
  • GSU Yes
  • CCS Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GSU Yes
  • CCS No
  • Daycare Facility
  • GSU
  • CCS No

Comparable Facts

Compare Governors State University in University Park, IL with College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Governors State University is larger than CCS based on total student enrollment (4,397 students vs. 1,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Governors State University is located in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting); College for Creative Studies is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Governors State University 11:1; College for Creative Studies 10:1.

GSU vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or CCS? 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 Governors State University than CCS ($12,756 vs. $36,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 23.2% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($11,736 vs. $15,272).
  • College for Creative Studies is 344.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than GSU (about $41,346 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 344.4% higher at CCS than at Governors State University (about $41,346 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $12,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College for Creative Studies than at Governors State University (98% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College for Creative Studies students is 162.8% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($30,108 vs. $11,455).

GSU vs. CCS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU or CCS? 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 CCS and GSU.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Governors State University 830/1060.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GSU - Test optional; CCS - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: GSU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CCS (3.19).
  • CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than GSU (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at GSU vs. 24.9% at CCS.

GSU vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GSU and CCS? 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 College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Governors State University graduates have a $9,750 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($17,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, GSU graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($178 vs. $279).
  • More CCS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.