William Rainey Harper College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but William Rainey Harper College comes closer — median earnings $48,071 against a $46,428 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | William Rainey Harper College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,607 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $46,428 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,071 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $10,184 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$52,208 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, William Rainey Harper College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $11,607 — a gap of $7,945 a year, or $39,104 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do William Rainey Harper College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
William Rainey Harper College graduates report a median $48,071 ten years after entry, $12,797 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, William Rainey Harper College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $10,184 at William Rainey Harper College, a difference of $5,275. 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 48% at William Rainey Harper 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.