Carl Sandburg College vs. College of Lake County

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Lake County is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (12,530 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); College of Lake County is in Grayslake, IL (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of Lake County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; College of Lake County 16:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. College of Lake County Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or College of Lake County? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carl Sandburg College than College of Lake County ($5,374 vs. $6,357).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 53.1% lower than at College of Lake County ($7,875 vs. $16,800).
• College of Lake County is 35.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Sandburg College (about $2,869 more per year; $10,869.00 vs. $8,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.8% higher at College of Lake County than at Carl Sandburg College (about $5,500 more per year; $14,400.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at College of Lake County (94% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 30.4% larger than aid received by College of Lake County students ($8,296 vs. $6,361).

Carl Sandburg College vs. College of Lake County Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or College of Lake County? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of Lake County and Carl Sandburg College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Carl Sandburg College - Open admission; College of Lake County - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. College of Lake County Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and College of Lake County? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College of Lake County earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $1,056 lower median loan debt than College of Lake County graduates ($4,444 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Lake County graduates ($45 vs. $56).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Lake County students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.