College of DuPage vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of DuPage comes closer — median earnings $46,909 against a $14,802 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of DuPage | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,401 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $14,802 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,909 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $10,410 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$43,822 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of DuPage or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $7,401 — a gap of $3,739 a year, or $7,478 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of DuPage or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
College of DuPage graduates report a median $46,909 ten years after entry, $11,635 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, College of DuPage or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $10,410 at College of DuPage, a difference of $5,501. 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 25% at College of DuPage. 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.