Head-to-head comparison
Chicago State University vs Spoon River College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
Chicago State University
- Net price / year
- $12,335
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,778
- 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 Chicago State University comes closer — median earnings $42,778 against a $49,340 total, vs $38,386 at Spoon River College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Chicago State University | Spoon River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,335 | $3,415 |
| Total net cost | $49,340 | $13,660 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,778 | $38,386 |
| Median debt | $30,625 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$160,980 | -$213,140 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Chicago State University or Spoon River College?
Spoon River College, at $3,415 a year after aid versus $12,335 — a gap of $8,920 a year, or $35,680 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 Chicago State University or Spoon River College graduates earn more?
Chicago State University graduates report a median $42,778 ten years after entry, $4,392 more than the $38,386 at Spoon River 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?
42% of students finish at Spoon River College, against 15% at Chicago State 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.