City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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 $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,220 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $28,880 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,427 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$347,540 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $7,220 — a gap of $3,558 a year, or $21,556 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-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $2,847 more than the $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $8,375 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, a difference of $3,466. 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 18% at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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.