City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs Prairie State 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 $36,696 at Prairie State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Prairie State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $4,738 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $18,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $36,696 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$252,232 |
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 Prairie State College?
Prairie State College, at $4,738 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $2,659 a year, or $4,158 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 Prairie State College graduates earn more?
Prairie State College graduates report a median $36,696 ten years after entry, $165 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 Prairie State College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: its completers carry a median $5,750 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Prairie State College, a difference of $5,250. 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 21% at Prairie State 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.