City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs School of the Art Institute of Chicago: 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 $40,151 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $49,790 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $199,160 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $40,151 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$363,340 |
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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, at $7,397 a year after aid versus $49,790 — a gap of $42,393 a year, or $184,366 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates earn more?
School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates report a median $40,151 ten years after entry, $3,620 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: its completers carry a median $5,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a difference of $21,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 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.