Head-to-head comparison
Illinois State University vs Governors State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Normal, IL
Illinois State University
- Net price / year
- $19,398
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,117
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B University Park, IL
Governors State University
- Net price / year
- $12,329
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,169
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Governors State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $49,316 in 5 years versus 5.6 years at Illinois State University, on median earnings of $58,169 vs $62,117 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Illinois State University | Governors State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,398 | $12,329 |
| Total net cost | $77,592 | $49,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,117 | $58,169 |
| Median debt | $20,482 | $18,618 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $197,548 | $146,864 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Illinois State University or Governors State University?
Governors State University, at $12,329 a year after aid versus $19,398 — a gap of $7,069 a year, or $28,276 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 Illinois State University or Governors State University graduates earn more?
Illinois State University graduates report a median $62,117 ten years after entry, $3,948 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, Illinois State University or Governors State University?
Governors State University: its completers carry a median $18,618 in federal loans versus $20,482 at Illinois State University, a difference of $1,864. 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?
65% of students finish at Illinois State 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.