Elgin Community College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Elgin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,516 against a $24,104 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elgin Community College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,026 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $24,104 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,516 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $7,390 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,984 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Elgin Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $6,026 — a gap of $2,364 a year, or $16,780 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Elgin Community College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Elgin Community College graduates report a median $45,516 ten years after entry, $10,242 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, Elgin Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $7,390 at Elgin Community College, a difference of $2,481. 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 41% at Elgin Community 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.