City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs Lake Land College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Land College comes closer — median earnings $38,877 against a $9,016 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Lake Land College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $2,254 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $9,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $38,877 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | $6,188 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$198,676 |
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 Lake Land College?
Lake Land College, at $2,254 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $5,143 a year, or $5,778 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 Lake Land College graduates earn more?
Lake Land College graduates report a median $38,877 ten years after entry, $2,346 more than the $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 Lake Land College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: its completers carry a median $5,750 in federal loans versus $6,188 at Lake Land College, a difference of $438. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
58% of students finish at Lake Land College, against 26% at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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.