Illinois Eastern Community Colleges vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Illinois Eastern Community Colleges comes closer — median earnings $37,533 against a $40,368 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,092 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $40,368 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,533 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$256,908 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $10,092 — a gap of $6,430 a year, or $33,044 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Illinois Eastern Community Colleges or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges graduates report a median $37,533 ten years after entry, $2,259 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, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $6,500 at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, 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?
63% of students finish at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, against 50% at Carl Sandburg 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.