Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 40% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 39th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IL wage index 1.04). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Protection | $104,017 | $108,135 | +25% | #2 of 19 | #2 | $15,000 |
| Computer Science | $70,053 | $91,299 | -15% | #236 of 349 | #252 | $27,000 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $73,283 | $87,442 | +8% | #14 of 51 | #25 | $21,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,454 | $86,238 | -6% | #272 of 318 | #275 | $19,500 |
| Computer Engineering | — | $85,056 | -22% | #183 of 189 | #181 | $23,935 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $68,670 | $83,853 | -17% | #256 of 258 | #250 | $20,000 |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $72,495 | $82,901 | -2% | #34 of 46 | #35 | — |
| Civil Engineering | $65,269 | $81,888 | -5% | #163 of 233 | #187 | $19,313 |
| Air Transportation | $44,063 | $81,394 | -5% | #29 of 52 | #36 | $18,750 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $69,021 | $80,220 | +13% | #69 of 253 | #89 | $21,476 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $62,503 | $79,299 | -3% | #46 of 61 | #44 | $15,193 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | — | $78,712 | -3% | #4 of 7 | #5 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,633 | $78,040 | +14% | #178 of 1176 | #196 | $25,712 |
| Soil Sciences | $55,076 | $74,026 | +19% | #2 of 6 | #2 | — |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $40,194 | $71,910 | +8% | #18 of 77 | #33 | $15,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $54,694 | $70,478 | -8% | #469 of 796 | #540 | $21,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $46,254 | $69,552 | -25% | #386 of 459 | #393 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,465 | $69,034 | +22% | #57 of 660 | #49 | $26,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $53,559 | $68,609 | +1% | #36 of 76 | #49 | $21,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $54,215 | $67,961 | +32% | #10 of 345 | #14 | $17,680 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,708 | $67,349 | -19% | #369 of 452 | #405 | $19,000 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | — | $66,130 | +19% | #33 of 207 | #28 | — |
| Architecture | $43,248 | $63,104 | -6% | #58 of 78 | #62 | $25,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $42,186 | $61,807 | +5% | #112 of 275 | #131 | $22,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | $61,493 | +19% | #66 of 299 | #78 | — |
| Economics | $37,798 | $60,612 | -27% | #352 of 368 | #342 | $21,201 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $33,688 | $60,203 | +0% | #4 of 6 | #5 | $28,000 |
| Marketing | $40,244 | $58,934 | -15% | #400 of 516 | #445 | $23,625 |
| Agriculture | $39,700 | $57,596 | +7% | #13 of 43 | #19 | $15,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $42,711 | $56,680 | -34% | #123 of 126 | #125 | $27,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | $56,632 | +17% | #40 of 137 | #38 | — |
| Political Science and Government | $26,635 | $55,544 | -12% | #427 of 565 | #445 | $23,594 |
| Nutrition Sciences | — | $55,329 | -8% | #42 of 53 | #44 | $20,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | $55,217 | -6% | #160 of 215 | #185 | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,258 | $55,039 | +1% | #254 of 610 | #324 | $21,345 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | $53,392 | -6% | #86 of 137 | #99 | $25,000 |
| Criminology | $37,645 | $52,916 | -5% | #74 of 113 | #85 | $20,500 |
| History | $30,101 | $52,900 | +4% | #183 of 459 | #197 | $21,687 |
| Biology | $28,206 | $51,947 | -9% | #630 of 841 | #694 | $26,922 |
| Forestry | $35,398 | $50,394 | -14% | #29 of 31 | #30 | $20,500 |
| Social Work | $34,664 | $49,952 | -4% | #271 of 420 | #354 | $27,000 |
| Journalism | $40,575 | $49,880 | -11% | #139 of 187 | #153 | $21,269 |
| Psychology | $32,287 | $48,728 | -4% | #617 of 1027 | #683 | $23,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $39,496 | $48,127 | +2% | #329 of 680 | #478 | $20,115 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $32,357 | $45,623 | -11% | #47 of 63 | #50 | $20,000 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | $45,177 | -23% | #11 of 12 | #11 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $33,285 | $44,902 | +9% | #119 of 423 | #147 | $25,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $44,429 | — | — | — | — | $21,250 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $25,247 | $43,823 | -24% | #54 of 57 | #54 | $30,916 |
| Legal Support Services | $36,159 | $43,654 | -18% | #31 of 32 | #31 | $24,871 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $129,799
- Avg rent near campus: $702/mo — vs ~$699/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 62918 (6.1% cap, Carterville)
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🏆 Where Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $9,638 | $9,638 |
| Room | $6,292 | |
| Board | $4,330 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $29,409 | $29,409 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,928 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,082 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,206 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,819 |
| $110,001+ | $23,582 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
How much does it cost to attend Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
What is the graduation rate at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Is there rental demand near Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology