City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carl Sandburg College comes closer — median earnings $35,274 against a $7,324 total, vs $28,467 at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,494 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $37,976 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,467 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $6,180 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$435,836 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $9,494 — a gap of $5,832 a year, or $30,652 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $6,807 more than the $28,467 at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $6,180 at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College, a difference of $1,271. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Carl Sandburg College, against 31% at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College. 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.