School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 $40,151 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,790 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $199,160 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,151 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$363,340 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $49,790 — a gap of $46,128 a year, or $191,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do School of the Art Institute of Chicago or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates report a median $40,151 ten years after entry, $4,877 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, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $27,000 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a difference of $22,091. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 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.