City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College vs Black Hawk College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College comes closer — median earnings $37,962 against a $31,544 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,886 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $31,544 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,962 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $4,500 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$239,504 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College or Black Hawk College?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $7,886 — a gap of $942 a year, or $3,768 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-Richard J Daley College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College graduates report a median $37,962 ten years after entry, $709 more than the $37,253 at Black Hawk 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-Richard J Daley College or Black Hawk College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College: its completers carry a median $4,500 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $3,875. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Black Hawk College, against 27% at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley 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.