City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College vs Black Hawk College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College comes closer — median earnings $41,625 against a $12,750 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,375 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $12,750 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,625 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,450 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College or Black Hawk College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College, at $6,375 a year after aid versus $6,944 — a gap of $569 a year, or $15,026 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-Wilbur Wright College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College graduates report a median $41,625 ten years after entry, $4,372 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-Wilbur Wright College or Black Hawk College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $1,875. 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 31% at City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright 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.