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Moody Bible Institute vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Chicago IL · vs · Public, Galesburg IL

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Moody Bible Institute comes closer — median earnings $45,399 against a $88,884 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureMoody Bible InstituteCarl Sandburg College
Net price / yr$22,221$3,662
Total net cost$88,884$7,324
Median earnings, 10 yrs$45,399$35,274
Median debt$18,149$4,909
Payback
20-year net return-$148,104-$269,044

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

Which is cheaper, Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $22,221 — a gap of $18,559 a year, or $81,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?

Moody Bible Institute graduates report a median $45,399 ten years after entry, $10,125 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, Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $18,149 at Moody Bible Institute, a difference of $13,240. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

62% of students finish at Moody Bible Institute, 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.

Moody Bible Institute vs Carl Sandburg College: frequently asked questions

Is Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College a better value?
Moody Bible Institute 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, Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: $3,662/yr net price after aid versus $22,221/yr at Moody Bible Institute — a difference of $18,559 a year, or about $81,560 over four years.
Do Moody Bible Institute or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Moody Bible Institute graduates earn a median $45,399 ten years after entry, versus $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College — a $10,125 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.