Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Governors State University #257 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Governors State University sits in the 40.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $4,197 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Governors State University #325 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Governors State University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across earnings beyond expectations and mobility — outcomes that hold up across the student population the university actually serves. The institution pairs its broad-access admissions posture with graduate earnings that outperform what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, making it a financially grounded option for students in the nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Governors State University #257 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in University Park, IL, Governors State University enrolls roughly 2,556 undergraduates. Retention stands at 56.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 22.1%, figures that reflect a student body navigating real financial and scheduling pressures while still completing degrees at meaningful rates. The composite is anchored by what Governors State University delivers for the students it serves. 53.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.6% are first-generation college students — a profile that places the university squarely in the broad-access tier of Illinois public higher education. Graduates earn about $4,197 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Governors State University in the 40.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes much of that outcome, connecting graduates to stable regional employment in business, management, and related fields. Return on investment sits at the 29.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting median earnings four years after enrollment of $56,405 — a figure that trails the peer median of $56,249 at comparable institutions and reflects the regional labor market in the south suburban Chicago corridor. Access and affordability carry more weight in the composite: Governors State University sits in the 92.4 percentile for access and the 88.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by broad admissions, a high Pell share, and a net-price structure calibrated to lower-income families. Mobility sits in the 78.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the university's role in converting broad access into durable economic progress for students who might otherwise lack a clear path to a four-year degree.
Governors State University's published cost of attendance is $24,227. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure: low-income families pay approximately $9,563, middle-income families pay around $11,705, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,076. Azimuth ranks Governors State University #163 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Governors State's financial aid reaches a broad student population through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution serves a high proportion of first-generation and low-income undergraduates, and aid packaging reflects that mission. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,618; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,991, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,405, median federal debt of $18,618 projects to a monthly payment of about $210 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Governors State University is a strong fit for students in the Chicago south suburbs who want an accessible public university with a clear path to stable careers in business, health, and public service fields — particularly those who need flexible, affordable options and plan to remain in the region after graduation. Graduates earn in the 31.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Governors State University sits in the 40.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $4,197 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a regional public university serving a largely commuter and transfer population. The access profile is broad. 53.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.6% are first-generation college students, and the institution's aid structure and open-access orientation make it a realistic option for cost-sensitive families. Median student debt at graduation is $18,618, which is manageable relative to the earnings trajectory for graduates who enter Business and related fields. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Governors State University draws heavily from the south suburban Chicago labor market, so students who plan to relocate nationally for careers in high-mobility fields may find stronger program networks elsewhere. The program mix centers on Business, health sciences, and education — students whose interests align with those areas will find the most direct path from degree to employment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Governors State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Governors State University's published cost of attendance is $24,227. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure: low-income families pay approximately $9,563, middle-income families pay around $11,705, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,076.
Azimuth ranks Governors State University #163 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Governors State's financial aid reaches a broad student population through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The institution serves a high proportion of first-generation and low-income undergraduates, and aid packaging reflects that mission.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,618; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,991, and private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,405, median federal debt of $18,618 projects to a monthly payment of about $210 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,405, placing Governors State University in the 31.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,197 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Governors State University in the 40.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Governors State University #1044 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults in the young-adult workforce with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Governors State University is anchored in Business and a cluster of applied professional fields. General Studies stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong four-year earnings, making it the institution's highest aggregate-return field.
Among the top programs by scale, General Studies program graduates 103 students and delivers median earnings of $50,703 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking the program #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the mid-tier of the program lineup, with graduates earning $47,048 and $59,562 respectively four years after enrollment.
The program mix skews toward Business (20% of graduates) and Education (4%), a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and connects graduates to stable regional labor-market demand in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
17 graduates
Computer Science
31 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
31 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
48 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
87 graduates
Governors State University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with the institution's identity as a regional public university serving working adults and career-focused students in the south suburban Chicago area. Business forms the core of degree output, complemented by health, education, and social science programs that align closely with local labor-market demand.
Across 18 programs, the university channels most of its graduates into fields with direct workforce pathways. The highest aggregate return comes from General Studies, which combines meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — making it the program that contributes most to the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, General Studies program graduates 103 students with median earnings of $50,703 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #100 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the largest programs by graduate count, each feeding into stable regional employment in health, public administration, and social services.
The strongest early-career earnings come from Computer Science, with graduates earning $79,154 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #165 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Artificial Intelligence and Accounting also deliver competitive early pay, reflecting demand for applied business and technical skills in the greater Chicago labor market.
These programs are largely direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school deferrals. For context on how these fields align with national wage trends, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The University Of Texas Permian Basin Similar quality tier (#10785 ranked) | TX | 95% | $56,073 | #10785 | Compare |
Suny Buffalo State University Similar quality tier (#10786 ranked) | NY | 73% | $52,334 | #10786 | Compare |
Bowie State University Similar quality tier (#10782 ranked) | MD | 72% | $54,537 | #10782 | Compare |
Alabama A & M University Similar quality tier (#10794 ranked) | AL | 58% | $40,628 | #10794 | Compare |
Fayetteville State University Similar quality tier (#10772 ranked) | NC | 82% | $40,144 | #10772 | Compare |
