City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College comes closer — median earnings $41,625 against a $12,750 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,375 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $12,750 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,625 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,450 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $6,375 — a gap of $2,713 a year, or $5,426 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-Wilbur Wright College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College graduates report a median $41,625 ten years after entry, $6,351 more than the $35,274 at Carl Sandburg 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-Wilbur Wright College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $6,500 at City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College, a difference of $1,591. 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-Wilbur Wright 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.