City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs First Institute of Travel Inc.: 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 $36,196 at First Institute of Travel Inc.. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | First Institute of Travel Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $20,528 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $82,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $36,196 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$325,392 |
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 First Institute of Travel Inc.?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, at $7,863 a year after aid versus $20,528 — a gap of $12,665 a year, or $50,660 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 First Institute of Travel Inc. graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College graduates report a median $36,484 ten years after entry, $288 more than the $36,196 at First Institute of Travel Inc.. 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 First Institute of Travel Inc.?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College: its completers carry a median $6,997 in federal loans versus $9,500 at First Institute of Travel Inc., a difference of $2,503. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at First Institute of Travel Inc., 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.