Degree Dividend
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Kaskaskia College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?

Public, Centralia IL · vs · Public, Galesburg IL

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Kaskaskia College comes closer — median earnings $38,801 against a $25,908 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureKaskaskia CollegeCarl Sandburg College
Net price / yr$6,477$3,662
Total net cost$25,908$7,324
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,801$35,274
Median debt$3,750$4,909
Payback
20-year net return-$217,088-$269,044

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $6,477 — a gap of $2,815 a year, or $18,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?

Kaskaskia College graduates report a median $38,801 ten years after entry, $3,527 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, Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College?

Kaskaskia College: its completers carry a median $3,750 in federal loans versus $4,909 at Carl Sandburg College, a difference of $1,159. 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 49% at Kaskaskia 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.

Kaskaskia College vs Carl Sandburg College: frequently asked questions

Is Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College a better value?
Kaskaskia College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: $3,662/yr net price after aid versus $6,477/yr at Kaskaskia College — a difference of $2,815 a year, or about $18,584 over four years.
Do Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Kaskaskia College graduates earn a median $38,801 ten years after entry, versus $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College — a $3,527 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.