Head-to-head comparison
South Suburban College vs Carl Sandburg College: which has better ROI?
Option A South Holland, IL
South Suburban College
- Net price / year
- $3,242
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,680
- 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 $33,680 at South Suburban College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Suburban College | Carl Sandburg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,242 | $3,662 |
| Total net cost | $12,968 | $7,324 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,680 | $35,274 |
| Median debt | — | $4,909 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,568 | -$269,044 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Suburban College or Carl Sandburg College?
South Suburban College, at $3,242 a year after aid versus $3,662 — a gap of $420 a year, or $5,644 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 South Suburban College or Carl Sandburg College graduates earn more?
Carl Sandburg College graduates report a median $35,274 ten years after entry, $1,594 more than the $33,680 at South Suburban 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?
50% of students finish at Carl Sandburg College, against 28% at South Suburban 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.