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Governors State University

University Park, IL 2,556 Undergrads 46.6% Grad Rate
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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: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$56,405
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$58,169
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate46.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Warning: The majority of students at this institution do not graduate. Non-completers typically earn significantly less and face higher debt risks.
Average Starting Age27.9
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
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
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$507k
+$40k
+$22k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$462k
-$5k
-$22k
Full Cost$24k/yr
+$419k
-$47k
-$65k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
45
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-50%
Full Cost$24k/yr
Never
-75%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-35%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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-58%
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, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$61,223
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,132
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
$17,885
Earnings (4yr)
$59,562
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$47,475
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,455
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
-$5k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,895
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$92k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$79,154
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,811
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,426
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$53,227
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,703
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,480
Earnings (4yr)
$47,048
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$17,928
Earnings (4yr)
$51,027
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,391
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,962
Earnings (4yr)
$56,123
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,813
Earnings (4yr)
$46,895
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,903
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Median Debt
$49,932
Earnings (4yr)
$76,515
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$12k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$47,477
Earnings (4yr)
$63,633
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,105
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Median Debt
$42,900
Earnings (4yr)
$56,452
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,334
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,527
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$92,964
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$68,912
Earnings (4yr)
$58,036
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$153k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,205
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$299k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,125
Earnings (4yr)
$131,619
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$493k
Median Debt
$69,700
Earnings (4yr)
$57,823
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,482
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,122
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k

Graduate Certificates

Biotechnology
Gr-CertCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,951
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,911
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $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 (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.