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Governors State University
University Park, IL 2,556 Undergrads 46.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$24,227
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$12,329
After Aid
Median Earnings
$56,405
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$12,329
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$56,405
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate46.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients53.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time68.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS71.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
48.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: -48075th: -
SAT Math
25th: -46575th: -
ACT Composite
25th: -1975th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$500k
+$40k
+$22k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$456k
-$5k
-$22k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$413k
-$47k
-$65k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
45
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-50%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-74%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-36%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-61%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,223
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (2yr)
$40,281
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$17,885
Earnings (4yr)
$59,562
Nat: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,475
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,455
Nat: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,895
Nat: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,154
Nat: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$145k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,811
Nat: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,426
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,227
Nat: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,703
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,480
Earnings (4yr)
$47,048
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$17,928
Earnings (4yr)
$51,027
Nat: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,391
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,962
Earnings (4yr)
$56,123
Nat: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Sociology and Anthropology
BachCIP: 4513
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,813
Earnings (4yr)
$46,895
Nat: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Nat: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$49,932
Earnings (4yr)
$76,515
Nat: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$218k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$47,477
Earnings (4yr)
$63,633
Nat: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Nat: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$42,900
Earnings (4yr)
$56,452
Nat: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
MastCIP: 2613
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,964
Nat: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$359k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Nat: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Management Information Systems and Services
MastCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$68,912
Earnings (4yr)
$58,036
Nat: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,205
Nat: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,125
Earnings (4yr)
$131,619
Nat: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$689k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$69,700
Earnings (4yr)
$57,823
Nat: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,482
Nat: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$94k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,935
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Graduate Certificates
Biotechnology
Gr-CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $98,951
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Gr-CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
DocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,911
Nat: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
DocCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $83,794
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.