Illinois Valley Community College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Illinois Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,810 against a $8,928 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Illinois Valley Community College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,232 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $8,928 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,810 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $8,233 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$159,928 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Illinois Valley Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Illinois Valley Community College, at $2,232 a year after aid versus $3,662 — a gap of $1,430 a year, or $1,604 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 Valley Community College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Illinois Valley Community College graduates report a median $40,810 ten years after entry, $5,536 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 Valley Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $8,233 at Illinois Valley Community College, a difference of $3,324. 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 42% at Illinois Valley 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.