City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blackburn College comes closer — median earnings $46,802 against a $73,840 total, vs $37,962 at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,886 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $31,544 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,962 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $4,500 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$239,504 | -$105,000 |
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 Blackburn College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College, at $7,886 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $10,574 a year, or $42,296 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-Richard J Daley College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $8,840 more than the $37,962 at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley 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 Blackburn College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College: its completers carry a median $4,500 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $19,742. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Blackburn 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.