Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale at a Glance
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Chartered in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. SIU enrolls students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Originally founded as a normal college, the university today provides programs in a variety of disciplines. SIU was granted limited university status in 1943 and began offering graduate degrees in 1950. A separat…
1869
157 years old
$229M
$228.5 million (2025)
11,785
8,553 undergrad · 3,237 grad
1,448
1,133 acres
Identity
Is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Worth It?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers moderate value at $13,297/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $53,390, which is 1% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 59% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #25 of 158 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | University of California-Merced | 93 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| #5 | Oakland University | 92 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| #6 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
| #25 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 59 | $13,297 | $53,390 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
The highest-earning program at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale is Mechanical Engineering at $61,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $18,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earns $61,100, while a Anthropology graduate earns $18,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $13,297/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,100 | $61,100 | $18,360 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $60,700 | $60,700 | $22,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $55,000 | $55,000 | $20,372 |
| Civil Engineering | $54,800 | $54,800 | $23,296 |
| Computer Science | $54,400 | $54,400 | $23,028 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $53,800 | $53,800 | $18,437 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $50,400 | $50,400 | $18,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $49,300 | $49,300 | $12,500 |
| Information Science/Studies | $48,200 | $48,200 | $27,217 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $46,700 | $46,700 | $22,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies | $45,000 | $45,000 | $22,125 |
| Architecture | $41,900 | $41,900 | $21,530 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,600 | $41,600 | $23,316 |
| Soil Sciences | $40,900 | $40,900 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $40,400 | $40,400 | $21,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $39,700 | $39,700 | $22,875 |
| Agriculture, General | $39,400 | $39,400 | $13,911 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $38,700 | $38,700 | N/A |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $38,700 | $38,700 | $23,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $38,600 | $38,600 | $13,492 |
| Air Transportation | $37,600 | $37,600 | $17,750 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $36,200 | $36,200 | $22,500 |
| Marketing | $34,300 | $34,300 | $26,062 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,800 | $32,800 | $27,000 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,600 | $31,600 | $21,890 |
| Forestry | $31,000 | $31,000 | $18,129 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $26,500 |
| Social Work | $29,200 | $29,200 | $27,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $29,100 | $29,100 | $20,362 |
| Criminology | $28,900 | $28,900 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $28,300 | $28,300 | $27,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,000 | $28,000 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,400 | $27,400 | $23,000 |
| Biology, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $25,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $26,000 | $26,000 | $24,000 |
| Journalism | $25,500 | $25,500 | $22,625 |
| Psychology, General | $25,400 | $25,400 | $24,882 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $24,900 | $24,900 | $27,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $23,200 | $23,200 | $25,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $22,400 | $22,400 | $25,500 |
| History | $22,400 | $22,400 | $23,750 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,100 | $22,100 | $25,385 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $19,800 | $19,800 | $32,334 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $22,458 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $19,300 | $19,300 | $19,639 |
| Anthropology | $18,800 | $18,800 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in IL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Carbondale, IL
- Student Body
- 8,494 students
- Admission Rate
- 87%
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $13,297
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $53,390
- Median Student Debt
- $21,543