Head-to-head comparison
Carl Sandburg College vs Spoon River College: 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 Canton, IL
Spoon River College
- Net price / year
- $3,415
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,386
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Spoon River College comes closer — median earnings $38,386 against a $13,660 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carl Sandburg College | Spoon River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,662 | $3,415 |
| Total net cost | $7,324 | $13,660 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,274 | $38,386 |
| Median debt | $4,909 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$269,044 | -$213,140 |
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 Spoon River College?
Spoon River College, at $3,415 a year after aid versus $3,662 — a gap of $247 a year, or $6,336 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 Spoon River College graduates earn more?
Spoon River College graduates report a median $38,386 ten years after entry, $3,112 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Carl Sandburg College, against 42% at Spoon River 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.