City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Cosmetology & Spa Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College comes closer — median earnings $36,484 against a $31,452 total, vs $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Cosmetology & Spa Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $16,708 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $66,832 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $29,779 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$438,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, at $7,863 a year after aid versus $16,708 — a gap of $8,845 a year, or $35,380 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-Harry S Truman College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College graduates report a median $36,484 ten years after entry, $6,705 more than the $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. 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-Harry S Truman College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College: its completers carry a median $6,997 in federal loans versus $7,917 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy, a difference of $920. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Cosmetology & Spa Academy, against 32% at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman 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.