Head-to-head comparison
Carl Sandburg College vs East-West University: 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 Chicago, IL
East-West University
- Net price / year
- $21,697
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,963
- 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 $29,963 at East-West University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carl Sandburg College | East-West University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,662 | $21,697 |
| Total net cost | $7,324 | $86,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,274 | $29,963 |
| Median debt | $4,909 | $26,986 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,044 | -$454,728 |
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 East-West University?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $21,697 — a gap of $18,035 a year, or $79,464 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 East-West University graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $5,311 more than the $29,963 at East-West University. 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 East-West University?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $26,986 at East-West University, a difference of $22,077. 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?
50% of students finish at Carl Sandburg College, against 16% at East-West University. 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.