Head-to-head comparison
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale vs Lake Forest College: which has better ROI?
Option A Carbondale, IL
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Net price / year
- $13,297
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,390
- Payback
- 10.6 yrs
Option B Lake Forest, IL
Lake Forest College
- Net price / year
- $28,673
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,825
- Payback
- 8.5 yrs
Lake Forest College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,692 in 8.5 years versus 10.6 years at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, on median earnings of $61,825 vs $53,390 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Lake Forest College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,297 | $28,673 |
| Total net cost | $53,188 | $114,692 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,390 | $61,825 |
| Median debt | $21,543 | $26,158 |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 8.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $47,412 | $154,608 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale or Lake Forest College?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, at $13,297 a year after aid versus $28,673 — a gap of $15,376 a year, or $61,504 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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale or Lake Forest College graduates earn more?
Lake Forest College graduates report a median $61,825 ten years after entry, $8,435 more than the $53,390 at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. 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, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale or Lake Forest College?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: its completers carry a median $21,543 in federal loans versus $26,158 at Lake Forest College, a difference of $4,615. 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?
78% of students finish at Lake Forest College, against 62% at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. 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.