City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Rasmussen University-Illinois: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rasmussen University-Illinois comes closer — median earnings $39,080 against a $39,708 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 | Rasmussen University-Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $19,854 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $39,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $39,080 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $20,899 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$225,308 |
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 Rasmussen University-Illinois?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, at $7,863 a year after aid versus $19,854 — a gap of $11,991 a year, or $8,256 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 Rasmussen University-Illinois graduates earn more?
Rasmussen University-Illinois graduates report a median $39,080 ten years after entry, $2,596 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 Rasmussen University-Illinois?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College: its completers carry a median $6,997 in federal loans versus $20,899 at Rasmussen University-Illinois, a difference of $13,902. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Rasmussen University-Illinois, 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.