Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Rankings & Recognition

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale appears in 11 of CollegesRef's value rankings by major. Its best placement is #9 of 521 for education, and #2 of 26 ranked colleges in Illinois.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rankings by major

Source: CollegesRef value rankings from U.S. College Scorecard data, 2025

Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work

Education

Ranked #9 of 521 for value

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas · 95 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $67,961; Ranked-college median: $48,822
Median debt: $14,674; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 87 of 100 · #2 of 26 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 99th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 97th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 56th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 22% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of Washington-Bothell Campus (#8)
Ranked just below: CUNY Brooklyn College (#10)

Best colleges for education

Kinesiology and exercise science

Ranked #97 of 459 for value

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 59 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $55,039; Ranked-college median: $53,707
Median debt: $18,000; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 67.1 of 100 · #5 of 17 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 57th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 74th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 59th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 33% of earnings

Ranked just above: Appalachian State University (#96)
Ranked just below: Colorado State University-Fort Collins (#98)

Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science

Business

Ranked #190 of 986 for value

Business Administration, Management and Operations · 20 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $78,040; Ranked-college median: $64,860
Median debt: $31,867; Ranked-college median: $21,375

Value score 66.5 of 100 · #10 of 32 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 84th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 19th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 61th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 41% of earnings

Ranked just above: Marist College (#189)
Ranked just below: University of the Pacific (#191)

Best colleges for business

Mechanical engineering

Ranked #215 of 276 for value

Mechanical Engineering · 25 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $86,238; Ranked-college median: $91,366
Median debt: $24,000; Ranked-college median: $20,713

Value score 34.1 of 100 · #6 of 8 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 14th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 20th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 30th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 28% of earnings

Ranked just above: Southern University and A & M College (#214)
Ranked just below: Tennessee Technological University (#216)

Best colleges for mechanical engineering

Engineering

Ranked #249 of 327 for value

Mechanical Engineering · 25 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $86,238; Ranked-college median: $91,742
Median debt: $24,000; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 35.5 of 100 · #6 of 9 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 16th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 21th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 32th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 28% of earnings

Ranked just above: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (#248)
Ranked just below: University of St Thomas-Minnesota (#250)

Best colleges for engineering

Finance

Ranked #254 of 330 for value

Finance and Financial Management Services · 25 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $67,349; Ranked-college median: $77,916
Median debt: $22,000; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 35.3 of 100 · #16 of 17 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 17th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 9th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 42th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $17,502) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 33% of earnings

Ranked just above: Coastal Carolina University (#253)
Ranked just below: Valdosta State University (#255)

Best colleges for finance

Accounting

Ranked #256 of 408 for value

Accounting and Related Services · 48 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $70,478; Ranked-college median: $76,108
Median debt: $23,500; Ranked-college median: $20,500

Value score 43.5 of 100 · #14 of 19 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 33th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 18th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 46th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 33% of earnings

Ranked just above: Concordia University-Saint Paul (#255)
Ranked just below: Xavier University-Ohio (#257)

Best colleges for accounting

Political science

Ranked #272 of 388 for value

Political Science and Government · 21 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $55,544; Ranked-college median: $63,181
Median debt: $19,500; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 38.7 of 100 · #8 of 14 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 20th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 29th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 29th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 35% of earnings

Ranked just above: Youngstown State University (#271)
Ranked just below: Seattle University (#273)

Best colleges for political science

Computer science

Ranked #375 of 466 for value

Computer and Information Sciences, General · 42 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $69,552; Ranked-college median: $97,375
Median debt: $18,500; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 31.6 of 100 · #16 of 20 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 6th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 18th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 44th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 27% of earnings

Ranked just above: Duquesne University (#374)
Ranked just below: University of South Carolina-Columbia (#376)

Best colleges for computer science

Biology

Ranked #434 of 680 for value

Biology, General · 38 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $51,947; Ranked-college median: $58,001
Median debt: $21,250; Ranked-college median: $20,717

Value score 42.8 of 100 · #18 of 24 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 24th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 29th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 47th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 41% of earnings

Ranked just above: Austin Peay State University (#433)
Ranked just below: Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (#435)

Best colleges for biology

Psychology

Ranked #465 of 814 for value

Psychology, General · 75 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $48,728; Ranked-college median: $51,007
Median debt: $24,749; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 46.6 of 100 · #23 of 29 in Illinois

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 37th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 82th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 19th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 51th percentile

Average net price $12,554 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 59.3% · debt is 51% of earnings

Ranked just above: Morehead State University (#464)
Ranked just below: University of Colorado Colorado Springs (#466)

Best colleges for psychology

Quick facts

Admit rate: 86.9%
Avg. net price: $12,554
Graduation: 59.3%
Students: 8,494

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Official classifications we track, alongside the rankings by major above.

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Carnegie Classification

R2 research university

A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with high research activity

Athletics

NCAA Division I

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