Head-to-head comparison
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
- Net price / year
- $7,220
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,427
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Galesburg, IL
Carl Sandburg College
- Net price / year
- $3,662
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,274
- 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 $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,220 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $28,880 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,427 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$347,540 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $7,220 — a gap of $3,558 a year, or $21,556 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $2,847 more than the $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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 leaves students with less debt, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $8,375 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, a difference of $3,466. 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 18% at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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.