Career Training Path › Illinois › Carl Sandburg College
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, Illinois · Public community college
Address: 2400 Tom L. Wilson Boulevard, Galesburg, IL 61401 · Phone: (309) 344-2518 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Apr 2025 · Probation · American Board of Funeral Service Education; Apr 2026 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation Removed.
Carl Sandburg College is a public trade school in Galesburg, Illinois, offering dental hygiene, welding, and radiology/sonography programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Carl Sandburg College has a 50.0% completion rate, below the Illinois state average of 58.4%; median graduate debt is $4,909 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,274.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Carl Sandburg College; federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 41.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental hygienists | $74,280 | $96,670 | $101,800 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,890 | $51,320 | $61,520 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $59,350 | $79,930 | $97,950 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $58,880 | $75,000 | $79,560 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,190 | $49,170 | $73,640 |
| Machinists | $38,390 | $58,520 | $65,620 |
| Medical assistants | $36,400 | $46,090 | $49,460 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $36,420 | $42,260 | $49,640 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 27 | $42,721 | $43,319 | $6,587 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | $37,568 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Carl Sandburg College is a public trade and career campus in Galesburg, Illinois. It holds accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, along with program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Because it participates in Title IV programs, students can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, here. The campus awards 11 program families in trade fields, with the most completions in dental hygiene programs (27 completions), welding schools (18 completions), and radiology & sonography programs (10 completions).
Federal data show a completion rate of 50.0%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4% for comparable programs. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $4,909, and median earnings ten years after entry were $35,274. About 41.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income students. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus, located in a distant-town locale, may suit students seeking short, focused trade credentials in fields like dental hygiene, welding, or radiologic technology rather than long, traditional degree paths, based on the program families listed; specific program lengths and scheduling are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students, including adult career-changers, should verify current accreditation status directly with the Higher Learning Commission and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Carl Sandburg College offers 11 trade program families, with the most completions in dental hygiene programs, welding schools, and radiology & sonography programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grant funding.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 50.0%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $4,909, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,274, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Carl Sandburg College is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for in-state residents and eligibility for state funding, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (309) 344-2518 or visit sandburg.edu for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?143613.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The program families offered, such as welding, dental hygiene, and radiology, suggest a focus on hands-on trade skills, though specific fit for adult learners depends on details like schedule and program length not reported in federal data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Carl Sandburg College at (309) 344-2518 or through its website, https://www.sandburg.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?143613 for comparable listings.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.