City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs South Suburban 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 $33,680 at South Suburban College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | South Suburban College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $3,242 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $12,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $33,680 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$306,568 |
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 South Suburban College?
South Suburban College, at $3,242 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $4,155 a year, or $1,826 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 South Suburban College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates report a median $36,531 ten years after entry, $2,851 more than the $33,680 at South Suburban 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 graduates more of its students?
28% of students finish at South Suburban 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.