City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs Generations College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College comes closer — median earnings $36,531 against a $14,794 total, vs $34,706 at Generations College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Generations College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $18,894 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $37,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $34,706 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | $25,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$310,868 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Generations College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, at $7,397 a year after aid versus $18,894 — a gap of $11,497 a year, or $22,994 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Generations College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates report a median $36,531 ten years after entry, $1,825 more than the $34,706 at Generations College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Generations College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: its completers carry a median $5,750 in federal loans versus $25,250 at Generations College, a difference of $19,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
26% of students finish at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, against 11% at Generations College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.