Kankakee Community College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kankakee Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,767 against a $18,660 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kankakee Community College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,665 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $18,660 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,767 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $9,969 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$210,520 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Kankakee Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $4,665 — a gap of $1,003 a year, or $11,336 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Kankakee Community College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Kankakee Community College graduates report a median $38,767 ten years after entry, $3,493 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, Kankakee Community College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $9,969 at Kankakee Community College, a difference of $5,060. 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 32% at Kankakee 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.