Carl Sandburg College
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,274 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,662 A
- 79% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,051
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 55.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $55.7 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $55.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $800,678.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $55.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Carl Sandburg College
Carl Sandburg College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,051
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Precision Production
Why students choose Carl Sandburg College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,662 a year after grants and scholarships — 79% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,274 ten years after enrolling — 13% below the typical college, against $4,909 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 50% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.91 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Carl Sandburg College has a remarkably low net price of just $3,662, making higher education accessible for many students. This affordability is a significant draw for those looking to minimize debt while still achieving their academic goals.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that graduates from Carl Sandburg College earn a median income of $35,274 ten years after enrollment. While this earning potential is modest, it reflects a solid foundation for students entering the workforce. With a graduation rate of 45%, students who complete their programs can expect positive outcomes, especially in fields like Health Professions and Computer Science.
Students who thrive here are often those seeking a supportive environment focused on practical skills. With 42% of the student body receiving Pell Grants, the college caters to individuals from diverse economic backgrounds. The median debt of $4,909 is also manageable, allowing graduates to start their careers without being weighed down by excessive loans.
Rankings
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best Online Nursing Programs in Illinois
- #8 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois
- #12 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Illinois
- #14 Best Online Business Programs in Illinois
- #17 Best Nursing Colleges in Illinois
- #20 Best Colleges in Illinois
- #21 Best Online Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Carl Sandburg College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carl Sandburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Galesburg, Illinois, Carl Sandburg College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Retention Rate
- 63%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,864
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carl Sandburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carl Sandburg College is $8,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,662. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,014 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $4,909 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,390
- Out-of-State
- $8,900
- Avg Net Price
- $3,662
- Median Debt
- $4,909
- Pell Grant Rate
- 42%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 14%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,014
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,025
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,074
- Family Income $110K+
- $6,012
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Carl Sandburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carl Sandburg College report median earnings of $35,274, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,149
- 8 Years
- $33,853
- 10 Years
- $35,274
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.14x
- Earning > $25K
- 47%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (49)
- 24%
- 100% (49)
- 24%
- 100% (49)
- 24%
- 100% (49)
- 24%
How Carl Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Carl Sandburg College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Carl Sandburg College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,662/year ($14,648 total). Graduates earn $35,274 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $815,326 in total earnings — a net gain of $800,678 (55.7× your investment). The median debt is $4,909, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $14,648
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $815,326
- Net Return
- $800,678
- ROI Multiple
- 55.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,662
- Median Debt
- $4,909
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Carl Sandburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carl Sandburg College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.46%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $59,300
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-97,183
Top Programs
The fields Carl Sandburg College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 62%
- Health Professions 22%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Precision Production 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
- Business & Marketing 1%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 1%
- Criminal Justice 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Carl Sandburg College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Carl Sandburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Galesburg, Illinois, Carl Sandburg College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Carl Sandburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Carl Sandburg College is $8,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,662. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,014 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $4,909 in federal student loans.
Is Carl Sandburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Carl Sandburg College report median earnings of $35,274, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Carl Sandburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Carl Sandburg College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.46%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Carl Sandburg College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Carl Sandburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.91, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Carl Sandburg College.
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- Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC · Close peer53% grad $34,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC · Close peer50% grad $34,304 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsville, VA · Close peer43% grad $33,323 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · Close peer40% grad $35,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Carl Sandburg College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Carl Sandburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.91, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note