City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Shawnee Community 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 $32,999 at Shawnee Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Shawnee Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $4,162 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $16,648 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $32,999 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$323,868 |
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 Shawnee Community College?
Shawnee Community College, at $4,162 a year after aid versus $7,863 — a gap of $3,701 a year, or $14,804 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 Shawnee Community College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College graduates report a median $36,484 ten years after entry, $3,485 more than the $32,999 at Shawnee Community 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 graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Shawnee 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.