City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs Spoon River College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Spoon River College comes closer — median earnings $38,386 against a $13,660 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Spoon River College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,397 | $3,415 |
| Total net cost | $14,794 | $13,660 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,531 | $38,386 |
| Median debt | $5,750 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$251,374 | -$213,140 |
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 Spoon River College?
Spoon River College, at $3,415 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $3,982 a year, or $1,134 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 Spoon River College graduates earn more?
Spoon River College graduates report a median $38,386 ten years after entry, $1,855 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 graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Spoon River 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.