U.S. median for this major: $58,662.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 45% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,227. College Scorecard.
GSU Public Health: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Health nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses GSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,563 | $42,173 | 2.8 years |
| $30–48k | $10,933 | $48,215 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $11,705 | $51,619 | 3.4 years |
| $75–110k | $16,741 | $73,828 | 4.8 years |
| $110k+ | $22,076 | $97,355 | 6.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (13% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Public Health graduates 4 years after graduating ($51,027) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,230 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Health at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Public Health graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University | $84,790 | $22,250 | $19,398 | 65% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $65,978 | $20,678 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago | $58,603 | $22,987 | $10,974 | 62% |
| 4 | Governors State University | $51,027 | $23,000 | $12,329 | 22% |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $47,652 | $29,223 | $14,889 | 57% |
11 more Illinois colleges offer Public Health but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Public Health graduates
Health education specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Medical and Health Services Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +24.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Compliance Officers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at GSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GSU
- Acceptance rate: 48% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 22% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $58,169
- Full cost breakdown · all 27 majors · overview
Related majors at GSU
- Health Administration$53,227
- Nursing$88,391
GSU Public Health questions
How much do GSU Public Health graduates earn?
Public Health graduates of Governors State University earn a median $51,027 four years after graduating and $36,537 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Health graduates across 192 colleges is $58,662.
How much debt do GSU Public Health graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Health graduates of Governors State University is $23,000, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is GSU a good school for Public Health in Illinois?
On pay, Public Health graduates of Governors State University earn $51,027 four years out, $7,576 below the median for the same major across 5 Illinois colleges ($58,603) and $7,635 below the U.S. median ($58,662). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does GSU rank for Public Health in Illinois?
Of 5 Illinois colleges reporting Public Health graduate earnings, Governors State University ranks 4th. The highest is Illinois State University at $84,790.
What jobs do Public Health graduates get?
A common career is health education specialist, with a median wage of $60,120 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $64,070 nationally. Others include medical and health services managers and compliance officers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Governors State University Public Health: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/governors-state-university/majors/public-health (College Scorecard and BLS data).