GSU vs. VCM

Should I go to Governors State University or VanderCook College of Music? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if GSU or VCM 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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Governors State University vs. VanderCook College of Music comparison
Governors State University VanderCook College of Music College 3 College 4
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Overview

 GSU VCM
Location University Park, IL Chicago, IL
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 4,337 340
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website govst.edu vandercook.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GSU VCM
Tuition (In State) $7,872 $28,640
Tuition (Out of State) $7,872 $28,640
Room & Board $11,360 $7,500
Avg Net Price $10,833 $16,601
Avg Grant Aid $11,315 $22,249
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

 GSU VCM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 37
Admitted - 36
Acceptance Rate 97.3%
Enrolled % 47.2%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.1
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 830/1060 890/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 GSU VCM
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 4:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)

Outcomes

 GSU VCM
Graduation Rate - 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $178 $279

Diversity

 GSU VCM
% Men 15% 32%
% Women 27% 39%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 36% 62%
% Black 38% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 9% 2%

Students

 GSU VCM
% In-State 95% 58%
% Out-of-State 3% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Governors State University is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (4,337 students vs. 340 students)

GSU vs. VCM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU or VCM?

  • VanderCook College of Music is 263.8% more expensive to attend than GSU for in-state tuition ($28,640.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 263.8% higher at VCM than Governors State University ($28,640.00 vs. $7,872.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Governors State University than VCM ($10,833 vs. $16,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 51.5% lower than costs at Governors State University ($7,500 vs. $11,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than Governors State University (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 96.6% larger than aid received Governors State University ($22,249 vs. $11,315)

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 196 points higher than at GSU (911)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at GSU (19)
  • Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.9 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at VCM (3.1)

GSU vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU or VCM? 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 VCM and GSU.

  • Governors State University students graduate with a $9,750 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($17,250 vs. $27,000)
  • GSU graduates are paying $101 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($178 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 48%)

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