Head-to-head comparison
Columbia College Chicago vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
Columbia College Chicago
- Net price / year
- $26,598
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,195
- 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 Columbia College Chicago comes closer — median earnings $42,195 against a $106,392 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College Chicago | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,598 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $106,392 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,195 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$229,692 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbia College Chicago or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $26,598 — a gap of $22,936 a year, or $99,068 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 Columbia College Chicago or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Columbia College Chicago graduates report a median $42,195 ten years after entry, $6,921 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 leaves students with less debt, Columbia College Chicago or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College: its completers carry a median $4,909 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Columbia College Chicago, a difference of $20,091. 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?
52% of students finish at Columbia College Chicago, 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.