Head-to-head comparison
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale vs Rockford University: 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 Rockford, IL
Rockford University
- Net price / year
- $22,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,794
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,188 in 10.6 years versus 13.9 years at Rockford University, on median earnings of $53,390 vs $54,794 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Rockford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,297 | $22,436 |
| Total net cost | $53,188 | $89,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,390 | $54,794 |
| Median debt | $21,543 | $22,274 |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $47,412 | $38,936 |
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 Rockford University?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, at $13,297 a year after aid versus $22,436 — a gap of $9,139 a year, or $36,556 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 Rockford University graduates earn more?
Rockford University graduates report a median $54,794 ten years after entry, $1,404 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 Rockford University?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: its completers carry a median $21,543 in federal loans versus $22,274 at Rockford University, a difference of $731. 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?
62% of students finish at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, against 47% at Rockford 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.