Southern Illinois University-Carbondale — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale charges a net price of $13,297/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $53,188. Graduates earn a median $53,390 ten years after entry, $5,030/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.6 years — a 20-year net return of $47,412, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's 10.6-year payback ranks #817 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 36% of them, and #33 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,297/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $53,188 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,390 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,030/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,543 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $47,412 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's own numbers. Net price $13,297 × 4 years = $53,188 total. Median earnings $53,390 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,030 a year of premium. $53,188 ÷ $5,030 = 10.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $47,412. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University-Carbondale students graduate with?
A median $21,543 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $53,390 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale students graduate?
62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $53,188 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $85,787 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $13,297 net price runs $453 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $1,812 less across the full degree.