A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at GSU are predominantly Black with a significant White population. The school has very high racial diversity. 64% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
36%
|
| Black |
38%
|
| Hispanic |
11%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
9%
|
There are 77% more female students than male students enrolled at Governors State University with a gender ratio of 64% women to 36% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, GSU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
36%
|
| Women |
64%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
1,600
|
| Women |
2,827
|
GSU serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 95 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
95%
|
| Out of State |
3%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
68% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 56.8% |
| Part time Undergrads | 47.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=145336 IPEDS survey data for Governors State University.