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Carl Sandburg College

Public Associate Strong 78/100

Carl Sandburg College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Galesburg, Illinois

About Carl Sandburg College

Carl Sandburg College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Galesburg, Illinois. It enrolls 1,051 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: sandburg.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 29.3%
Net Price: $3,662
Median Earnings (10yr): $35,274
Enrollment: 1,051
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

78/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 50

Value 92

Affordability 76

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Carl Sandburg College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Carl Sandburg College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,662 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$3,662

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

42%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

14%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $5,390
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $8,900
Room & Board (off-campus): $7,875
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,429
Total Cost of Attendance: $11,563

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$1,014
$30,001 – $48,000

$3,025
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,074
$75,001 – $110,000

$5,162
Over $110,000

$6,012

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,000

10% percentile

$1,750

25% percentile

$4,909

Median percentile

$5,250

75% percentile

$8,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $3,500 ↓ $1,409

No Pell $5,813 ↑ $904

Dependent students $3,500 ↓ $1,409

Independent students $3,500 ↓ $1,409

Female students $3,500 ↓ $1,409

Male students $4,288 ↓ $621

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, close to what completers borrow ($4,909) but without the degree to show for it.

Graduation Rate & Retention

29% of full-time students who enrolled at Carl Sandburg College graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

29%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

65%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $35,274 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$35,274

Earning > $25K

60%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$28,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$42,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$30,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$35,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$44,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,100, about 33% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 14.5 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Carl Sandburg College is home to 1,051 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

1,051

Part-Time

40%

First-Generation

43%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 65.7% 690

Hispanic 15.7% 165

Black 11.8% 124

Other 4.8% 50

Asian 0.9% 9

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Carl Sandburg College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Distant Galesburg, Illinois

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

22% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Carl Sandburg College offers a varied set of programs: 22 distinct programs across 8 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

7 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $68K ($51K–$83K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)

6 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

1 Program

Precision Production

Precision Metal Working

1 Program

Personal Services

Funeral Service and Mortuary Science $60K ($45K–$76K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Sandburg College is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

16:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$6,504

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$13M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$59,382

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

41 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
No Rank	41	100%	$59,382

Pros & Cons of Carl Sandburg College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Carl Sandburg College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side

Best for: Based on the data, Carl Sandburg College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carl Sandburg College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Carl Sandburg College.

Is Carl Sandburg College hard to get into?

Carl Sandburg College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Carl Sandburg College cost?

The average net price after aid at Carl Sandburg College is $3,662 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Carl Sandburg College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $35,274 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,662 per year. That's roughly 9.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Carl Sandburg College known for?

Carl Sandburg College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Carl Sandburg College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Carl Sandburg College are $35,274, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Carl Sandburg College accredited?

Yes. Carl Sandburg College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College enrolls 1,051 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Carl Sandburg College?

Carl Sandburg College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Carl Sandburg College a public or private college?

Carl Sandburg College is a Public institution.

Where is Carl Sandburg College located?

Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, Illinois.

What programs does Carl Sandburg College offer?

Carl Sandburg College offers 22 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Sandburg College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Carl Sandburg College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.