City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,375 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $12,750 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,625 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$147,450 | -$251,374 |
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 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College, at $6,375 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $1,022 a year, or $2,044 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College graduates report a median $41,625 ten years after entry, $5,094 more than the $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: its completers carry a median $5,750 in federal loans versus $6,500 at City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College, a difference of $750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
31% of students finish at City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College, against 26% at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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.