City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College vs Black Hawk College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Black Hawk College comes closer — median earnings $37,253 against a $27,776 total, vs $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,220 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $28,880 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,427 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$347,540 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College or Black Hawk College?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $7,220 — a gap of $276 a year, or $1,104 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-Malcolm X College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
Black Hawk College graduates report a median $37,253 ten years after entry, $4,826 more than the $32,427 at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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-Malcolm X College or Black Hawk College?
Completers at both borrow a median $8,375, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Black Hawk College, against 18% at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X 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.