CSUDH vs. GSU

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA with Governors State University in University Park, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Dominguez Hills is larger than GSU based on total student enrollment (15,182 students vs. 4,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, CA (Small City setting); Governors State University is in University Park, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Dominguez Hills is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Governors State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Dominguez Hills 21:1; Governors State University 11:1.

CSUDH vs. GSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUDH or GSU? 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 California State University Dominguez Hills than GSU ($9,175 vs. $12,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Governors State University are 36.4% lower than at California State University Dominguez Hills ($11,736 vs. $18,444).
• Governors State University is 61.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUDH (about $4,555 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $7,449.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 67% higher at CSUDH than at Governors State University (about $8,045 more per year; $20,049.00 vs. $12,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Dominguez Hills than at Governors State University (93% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Dominguez Hills students is 21.8% larger than aid received by Governors State University students ($13,951 vs. $11,455).

CSUDH vs. GSU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsGovernors State University 830/1060.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUDH - Test-free; GSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUDH Dec 4, 2026; GSU Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman GSU students have a 0.84 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CSUDH (3.16).
• CSUDH has a higher acceptance rate (93.3%) than GSU (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at CSUDH vs. 16.8% at GSU.

CSUDH vs. GSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUDH and GSU? 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 California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than GSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $42,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Dominguez Hills graduates have a $3,288 lower median loan debt than GSU graduates ($13,962 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, CSUDH graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GSU graduates ($144 vs. $178).
• More CSUDH graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.