University Park, Illinois · Public · 4-year · Large suburb
Overview
Governors State University is a public four-year institution based in University Park, Illinois. Its campus is in a large suburban area. It enrolled 4,397 students in fall 2024, including 2,572 undergraduates and 1,825 graduate students.
Governors State University offers certificates, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional doctorates across 68 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Computer Science, Psychology, General, and Business Administration and Management. It awarded 1,281 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 3 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
56% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1.
Mission
Governors State University (GovState) is committed to offering an exceptional and accessible education that prepares students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed in a global society.
Key figures
4,397
Students enrolled
56%
First-year retention
1,281
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
68
Programs and majors
11:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateBachelorMasterPhDProfessional
Programs and majors offered 68
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
56%
First-year retention, part-time students
38%
Student-to-faculty ratio
11:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
606
Master's degrees
595
Doctoral degrees (research)
21
Professional doctorates
25
Other doctoral degrees
3
Postbaccalaureate certificates
2
Post-master's certificates
29
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
4,397
Undergraduates, fall 2024
2,572
Graduate students, fall 2024
1,825
Full-time, fall 2024
62%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
5,281
Undergraduates, 2024-25
3,114
Graduate students, 2024-25
2,167
Full-time, 2024-25
59%
Size category
1,000 to 4,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
64%
Men
36%
White
26%
Hispanic or Latino
16%
Black or African American
37%
Asian
2%
Two or more races
3%
International (U.S. nonresident)
14%
Race or ethnicity unknown
2%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
3
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
40%
Students taking some online courses
40%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Large suburb
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Athletic association
NAIA
Athletic conference
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
President
Dr. Joyce Ester
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, On-campus day care, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement AdministrationLiberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, OtherBusiness Administration and Management+88