Head-to-head comparison
John A Logan College vs Chicago State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Carterville, IL
John A Logan College
- Net price / year
- $5,541
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,096
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago, IL
Chicago State University
- Net price / year
- $12,335
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,778
- 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 $34,096 at John A Logan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | John A Logan College | Chicago State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,541 | $12,335 |
| Total net cost | $11,082 | $49,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,096 | $42,778 |
| Median debt | — | $30,625 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$296,362 | -$160,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, John A Logan College or Chicago State University?
John A Logan College, at $5,541 a year after aid versus $12,335 — a gap of $6,794 a year, or $38,258 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 John A Logan College or Chicago State University graduates earn more?
Chicago State University graduates report a median $42,778 ten years after entry, $8,682 more than the $34,096 at John A Logan 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?
46% of students finish at John A Logan 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.