City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Rend Lake College: 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 $35,775 at Rend Lake College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Rend Lake College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $9,187 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $36,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $35,775 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $5,809 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$288,448 |
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 Rend Lake College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, at $7,863 a year after aid versus $9,187 — a gap of $1,324 a year, or $5,296 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 Rend Lake College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College graduates report a median $36,484 ten years after entry, $709 more than the $35,775 at Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College?
Rend Lake College: its completers carry a median $5,809 in federal loans versus $6,997 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, a difference of $1,188. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Rend Lake 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.