City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Lewis and Clark Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lewis and Clark Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,724 against a $13,396 total, vs $36,484 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Lewis and Clark Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $3,349 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $13,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $37,724 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $6,751 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$226,116 |
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 Lewis and Clark Community College?
Lewis and Clark Community College, at $3,349 a year after aid versus $7,863 — a gap of $4,514 a year, or $18,056 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 Lewis and Clark Community College graduates earn more?
Lewis and Clark Community College graduates report a median $37,724 ten years after entry, $1,240 more than the $36,484 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman 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-Harry S Truman College or Lewis and Clark Community College?
Lewis and Clark Community College: its completers carry a median $6,751 in federal loans versus $6,997 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, a difference of $246. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Lewis and Clark Community College, 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.