Carl Sandburg College vs. Prairie State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL with Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie State College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Prairie State College is in Chicago Heights, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prairie State College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Prairie State College 12:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Prairie State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Prairie State 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 Prairie State College than Carl Sandburg College ($5,317 vs. $5,374).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie State College are 4.6% lower than at Carl Sandburg College ($7,516 vs. $7,875).
• Prairie State College is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carl Sandburg College (about $1,342 more per year; $9,342.00 vs. $8,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.3% higher at Prairie State College than at Carl Sandburg College (about $2,164 more per year; $11,064.00 vs. $8,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Prairie State College (94% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie State College students is 2.1% larger than aid received by Carl Sandburg College students ($8,470 vs. $8,296).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Prairie State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carl Sandburg College or Prairie State 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 Prairie State 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; Prairie State College - Open admission.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Prairie State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Prairie State 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 Prairie State College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Carl Sandburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have a $5,788 lower median loan debt than Prairie State College graduates ($4,444 vs. $10,232).
• Among borrowers, Carl Sandburg College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Prairie State College graduates ($45 vs. $105).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Prairie State College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 28%)

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.