Carl Sandburg College vs. Rend Lake College

Comparable Facts

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

Rend Lake College is larger than Carl Sandburg College based on total student enrollment (2,015 students vs. 1,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Rend Lake College is in Ina, IL (Distant Rural setting).
• Carl Sandburg College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rend Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Carl Sandburg College 15:1; Rend Lake College 19:1.

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rend Lake College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carl Sandburg College or Rend Lake 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 Carl Sandburg College than Rend Lake College ($5,374 vs. $11,427).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carl Sandburg College are 32.6% lower than at Rend Lake College ($7,875 vs. $11,678).
• Carl Sandburg College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rend Lake College (about $200 more per year; $8,000.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Carl Sandburg College than at Rend Lake College (about $1,100 more per year; $8,900.00 vs. $7,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carl Sandburg College than at Rend Lake College (94% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carl Sandburg College students is 32.7% larger than aid received by Rend Lake College students ($8,296 vs. $6,250).

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rend Lake College Admissions comparison

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

Carl Sandburg College vs. Rend Lake College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Carl Sandburg College and Rend Lake 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 Carl Sandburg College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Rend Lake College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,300 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have a $944 lower median loan debt than Carl Sandburg College graduates ($3,500 vs. $4,444).
• Among borrowers, Rend Lake College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carl Sandburg College graduates ($36 vs. $45).
• More Carl Sandburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rend Lake College students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 40%)

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.