Governors State University

governors state university accreditation

Affordable, Accredited Education Available at Governors State

Governors State University appears in our ranking of the 16 Most Affordable Master’s in Addiction Studies.

Featured in the U.S. News & World Report’s top 153 Midwest schools, Governors State University is a public, coed Minority Serving Institution (MSI) south of Chicago that offers 33 bachelor’s, 30 master’s, and five doctoral degrees plus a College Pathways Program at a 10:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the B.S. in Accounting follows a 120-credit, AACSB-accredited track headed by Dr. Ting Wang for undergrads to take the Uniform CPA exam after 40 courses like Fraud Examination and the Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship. Chaired by Dr. Ning Lu, the 120-credit Bachelor of Health Administration provides opportunities to intern with La Rabida Children’s Hospital, pledge Upsilon Phi Delta, join Wellness Club, study abroad from Turkey to Thailand, and volunteer via Operation Health.

Online on Blackboard since 2015, the M.H.S. in Addiction Studies has built a 32-credit, NASAC-accredited path led by Dr. Cheryl Mejta for Illinois Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credentialing after courses like Substance Abuse Prevention with 300 internship hours. Directed by Dr. Sondra Estep, the M.A. in Principal Leadership develops a 36-credit, cohort-based sequence for full-time teachers to earn the Illinois Type 75 Educational Administration License after accelerated, hybrid 7.5-week courses from School Law to Community Relations.

Other Governors State degrees include the B.F.A. in Art, B.A. in English, B.S. in Information Technology, B.S. in Chemistry, M.A. in Criminal Justice, M.S. in Mathematics, M.S. in Nursing, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and Ed.D. in Counselor Education.

About Governors State University

Governors State University originated on July 17, 1969, when the 35th Governor Richard Buell Ogilvie signed House Bill 666 to develop an upper-division Chicagoland institution. In Fall 1971, President William E. Engbretson welcomed the first class to the former Olympia Fields Country Club. In 1976, Governors State notably sponsored the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. In 1979, the College of Arts & Sciences was formally organized. By 1996, GSU received independence from the Illinois Board of Governors of Colleges and Universities. In 2000, the Family Development Center was launched for on-campus childcare. Seven years later, GSU founded its earliest doctoral program in physical therapy. In 2011, Governors State University invested $22.6 million to renovate all science facilities. On November 25, 2012, GSU announced it would switch to a four-year model. In August 2014, an inaugural class of 270 full-time freshmen was enrolled.

Endowed for $2.2 million, Governors State University now employs 1,192 staff who serve 2,332 undergrad and 988 post-grad Jaguars taking 46,832 credit hours total online or on a 742-acre Southland campus in University Park with 95+ clubs like Alpha Sigma Iota. In 2014, Governors State received the AASCU Student Success and Completion Award. In 2015, GSU won the American Council on Education Award for Institutional Transformation. Governors State University accepted the 2010 Illinois Sustainability Award too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked GSU the 75th best health administration, 164th top physical therapy, and 235th best public affairs school. On Niche, GSU boasts America’s 288th best liberal arts education. Chemical & Engineering News picked Governors State University 14th overall. WalletHub noticed GSU for the 78th best student experience and 186th top value.

Governors State University Accreditation Details

On May 19, 2016, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) mailed Governors State University an Institutional Status Report that extended the Level VI accreditation through the next April 2020 evaluation under President Elaine P. Maimon, Ph.D., who earned the ACE Donna Shavlik Award. Located 37 miles north via Interstate 57 on Chicago’s La Salle Street, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The Academic Advising Office also lists the following accreditations:

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
  • Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
  • National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
  • Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Governors State University Application Requirements

Enrollment at Governors State University is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 568 of the 1,504 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for 38 percent acceptance. First-year Jaguars must culminate an approved high school diploma or the GED. Unweighted GPAs of 2.75 and better are required. Freshmen with GPAs above 3.4 qualify for the Honors Program. Unconditional admission involves meeting the 19 ACT or 980 SAT score minimum. Current undergrads can transfer with 24+ accredited credits and GPAs of 2.0 or higher. The Dual Degree Program requires completing an associate degree or 60 credits at 11 participating Illinois colleges. Non-U.S. residents typically need at least 550 TOEFL, 53 PTE, or 6.0 IELTS scores. Graduate programs have minimum GPA requirements of 2.5 to 3.0 for a four-year bachelor’s completion. Post-grads with 3.5 GPAs or five years of experience qualify for a GRE/GMAT waiver. Otherwise reaching the 300 GRE or 500 GMAT level is expected.

Governors State University set freshmen deadlines of November 15th for priority and April 1st for preferred admission. Transfers should apply by July 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, or April 1st for Summer. International students must file by June 1st, October 1st, or March 1st. Graduate programs have wide-ranging deadlines though. For instance, the Ed.S. in School Psychology closes on April 20th. Doctor of Physical Therapy cohorts must apply before October 5th. The Advanced Standing M.S.W. has a February 1st deadline. Check program specifics before completing the GSU Application online for $25 ($50 if graduate). Send official transcripts to 1 University Parkway in University Park, IL 60484. Forward test scores using SAT/GRE code 0807 or ACT code 1028. Inquire further by contacting (708) 534-4490 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Governors State University is charging in-state undergrads $313 per credit. Non-resident tuition costs $626 per credit. Bachelor’s majors cover mandatory fees of $105 per term. Living at the Southland campus’ housing like Prairie Place incurs $6,102 to $10,263 each year. Gold meal plans for the GSU Cafe are $3,000 extra. Governors State budgets $1,000 for books and $3,000 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual full-time undergrad attendance averages $25,092 in-state and $34,482 out-of-state. Master’s programs bill Illinoisans $353 and non-residents $706 per credit. College of Business cohorts uniquely pay $406 to $812 per credit. The Ed.S. in School Psychology costs $422 to $844 per credit. Doctoral candidates spend $477 to $1,139 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid at Building D Room 1413 connects 96 percent of new full-time GSU Jaguars to tuition assistance averaging $9,021 each for $1.42 million combined. University funds include the Melissa Kay Solomon Scholarship, Second Chance Scholarship, Dr. Judith Cooney Memorial Scholarship, American Logistics Association Scholarship, David Bernstein Scholarship, Dr. Lowell Culver Fellowship, Dr. Peggy Williams Memorial Scholarship, Creative Arts Talent Scholarship, and REACH Scholarship. The $8,000 Provost Scholarship has a December 1st deadline for freshmen with minimum 3.5 GPAs to submit 400-word essays. The Chicago STAR Scholars Program gifts $2,000 annually to Dual Degree transfers with 3.25 or better GPAs at local community colleges. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Direct Unsubsidized Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 009145. Illinoisans can also utilize the Monetary Award Program, Aim High Grant, Nursing Education Scholarship, Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship, MIA/POW Scholarship, and more.

Search through four schools conferring 60+ flexible, forward-thinking degrees placed 459th for diversity by College Factual at the Governors State University website.