Head-to-head comparison
Bradley University vs Governors State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Peoria, IL
Bradley University
- Net price / year
- $22,719
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,852
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B University Park, IL
Governors State University
- Net price / year
- $12,329
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,169
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Bradley University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,876 in 4.9 years versus 5 years at Governors State University, on median earnings of $66,852 vs $58,169 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bradley University | Governors State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,719 | $12,329 |
| Total net cost | $90,876 | $49,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,852 | $58,169 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $18,618 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $278,964 | $146,864 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bradley University or Governors State University?
Governors State University, at $12,329 a year after aid versus $22,719 — a gap of $10,390 a year, or $41,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bradley University or Governors State University graduates earn more?
Bradley University graduates report a median $66,852 ten years after entry, $8,683 more than the $58,169 at Governors State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bradley University or Governors State University?
Governors State University: its completers carry a median $18,618 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Bradley University, a difference of $8,382. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Bradley University, against 22% at Governors State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.