Head-to-head comparison
Carl Sandburg College vs Cosmetology & Spa Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Galesburg, IL
Carl Sandburg College
- Net price / year
- $3,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,274
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Crystal Lake, IL
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
- Net price / year
- $16,708
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,779
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carl Sandburg College comes closer — median earnings $35,274 against a $7,324 total, vs $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carl Sandburg College | Cosmetology & Spa Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,662 | $16,708 |
| Total net cost | $7,324 | $66,832 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,274 | $29,779 |
| Median debt | $4,909 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,044 | -$438,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Carl Sandburg College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $16,708 — a gap of $13,046 a year, or $59,508 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Carl Sandburg College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $5,495 more than the $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Carl Sandburg College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $7,917 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy, a difference of $3,008. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Cosmetology & Spa Academy, 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.