Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #241 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale sits in the 72.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $3,752 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #176 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's composite standing reflects a balance of earnings beyond expectations and mobility outcomes that outpace what the institution's broad-access profile might suggest. The university's earnings and mobility performance together position it as a meaningful option for cost-sensitive students seeking durable long-term returns at Illinois public-tuition pricing.
Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #241 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale enrolls roughly 8,494 undergraduates. Retention stands at 66.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.4%, figures that sit below the levels seen at many peer institutions and shape the university's overall composite position. What anchors Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 88.2 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes for the low-income and first-generation students it serves. 38.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation college students — a broad-access profile reinforced by an admission rate of 86.9%. The university sits in the 74.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its dominant program concentration in Education feeds directly into regional labor markets across southern Illinois. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #658 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 55.6 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $61,484, below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions, and earn about $3,752 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the 72.5 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 78.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings figures reflect IL's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,990, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's published cost of attendance is $28,329, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $9,415, while middle-income families pay around $10,308, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,254. Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #304 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Illinois-based need-based aid. The gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for lower-income families, where grant and scholarship dollars close a meaningful share of the cost — a pattern common among public universities with strong access missions. Families are encouraged to review the net price illusion to understand how published costs compare with what students actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,543, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,484, median federal debt of $21,543 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is a good fit for students drawn to education, applied sciences, and career-oriented fields who want a public university experience in southern IL with a clear path to stable post-graduation employment. Graduates earn in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale sits in the 72.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $3,752 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 38.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation — and the aid structure is oriented toward making attendance accessible for cost-sensitive families. Median student debt at graduation is $21,543, and low-income graduates sit in the 72.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Education and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is broadly accessible, admitting approximately 86.9% of applicants, which means the institution serves a wide range of academic backgrounds rather than a narrowly filtered pool.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's published cost of attendance is $28,329, but need-based aid meaningfully reduces what most families pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $9,415, while middle-income families pay around $10,308, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,254.
Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University-Carbondale #304 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and Illinois-based need-based aid. The gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for lower-income families, where grant and scholarship dollars close a meaningful share of the cost — a pattern common among public universities with strong access missions.
Families are encouraged to review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how published costs compare with what students actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,543, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,484, median federal debt of $21,543 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn median earnings of $61,484 four years after enrollment, placing Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the 51.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $3,752 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 72.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The degree mix at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale leans toward Education, which accounts for 11% of graduates, followed by Business at 9% and Engineering at 7%. Air Transportation combines meaningful cohort scale with solid earnings, anchoring the institution's aggregate return story.
Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Air Transportation #10 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 150 graduates earning median earnings of $81,394. The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 120 students with median earnings of $67,961, and Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians #13 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 89 graduates earning median earnings of $79,299.
Larger-enrollment programs such as Criminology (75 graduates, median earnings of $52,916) and Psychology, General (74 graduates, median earnings of $48,728) round out the program landscape and reflect the institution's applied and professional orientation.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Alabama In Huntsville Similar quality tier (#9631 ranked) | AL | 69% | $61,767 | #9631 | Compare |
Rhode Island College Similar quality tier (#9623 ranked) | RI | 92% | $56,318 | #9623 | Compare |
Fashion Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#9622 ranked) | NY | 60% | $62,696 | #9622 | Compare |
Oregon Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#9621 ranked) | OR | 95% | $72,273 | #9621 | Compare |
Suny Old Westbury Similar quality tier (#10150 ranked) | NY | 84% | $58,526 | #10150 | Compare |
Fire Protection
36 graduates
Computer Science
26 graduates
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
64 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
57 graduates
Computer Engineering
19 graduates
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's program mix is anchored in Education, with meaningful enrollment across applied health, business, and workforce-oriented fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's land-grant identity and regional service mission. Education accounts for 11% of graduates, Business accounts for 9%, and Engineering accounts for 7%.
Across 66 programs serving roughly 1,999 students annually, 54 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians #5 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $87,442. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #214 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 57 graduates earning $86,238.
Air Transportation adds another applied-career pathway, with Azimuth ranking the program #10 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates earning $81,394. The [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) details how Azimuth evaluates these outcomes.
The largest programs by cohort size tell a different story. The Air Transportation program graduates 150 students annually with median earnings of $81,394, while The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 120 students earning $67,961 and The Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians program graduates 89 students earning $79,299.
Several of these larger programs — particularly in education and social-service fields — are pathways where four-year earnings may undercount longer-term trajectory, since graduates often enter roles with structured salary scales that rise with experience and credentialing. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional and national labor-market demand. ```
