Head-to-head comparison
Kaskaskia College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Centralia, IL
Kaskaskia College
- Net price / year
- $6,477
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,801
- 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 Kaskaskia College comes closer — median earnings $38,801 against a $25,908 total, vs $35,274 at Carl Sandburg College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Kaskaskia College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,477 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $25,908 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,801 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | $3,750 | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$217,088 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College?
Carl Sandburg College, at $3,662 a year after aid versus $6,477 — a gap of $2,815 a year, or $18,584 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 Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Kaskaskia College graduates report a median $38,801 ten years after entry, $3,527 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, Kaskaskia College or Carl Sandburg College?
Kaskaskia College: its completers carry a median $3,750 in federal loans versus $4,909 at Carl Sandburg College, a difference of $1,159. 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 49% at Kaskaskia 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.