Carl Sandburg College vs. Lake Land College

Comparable Facts

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

Lake Land College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (3,960 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Lake Land College is in Mattoon, IL (Remote Town setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lake Land College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Lake Land College 13:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Lake Land College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Lake Land College? 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 Lake Land College than Carl Sandburg College ($4,414 vs. $5,374).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Land College are 23.8% lower than at Carl Sandburg College ($6,000 vs. $7,875).
• Lake Land College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Sandburg College (about $342 more per year; $8,342.00 vs. $8,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.7% higher at Lake Land College than at Carl Sandburg College (about $5,401 more per year; $14,301.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Lake Land College (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 47.7% larger than aid received by Lake Land College students ($8,296 vs. $5,615).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Lake Land College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Lake Land College? 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 Lake Land College 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; Lake Land College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lake Land College Sep 3, 2026.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Lake Land College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Lake Land College? 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 Lake Land College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,600 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $56 lower median loan debt than Lake Land College graduates ($4,444 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lake Land College graduates ($45 vs. $46).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lake Land College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 49%)

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.