Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carl Sandburg College comes closer — median earnings $35,274 against a $7,324 total, vs $33,601 at Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,793 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $111,172 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,601 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$406,352 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $27,793 — a gap of $24,131 a year, or $103,848 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $1,673 more than the $33,601 at Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois. 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, Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois, a difference of $4,591. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois, 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.