College of DuPage vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of DuPage comes closer — median earnings $46,909 against a $14,802 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of DuPage | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,401 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $14,802 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,909 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $10,410 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$43,822 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of DuPage or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, at $7,397 a year after aid versus $7,401 — a gap of $4 a year, or $8 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of DuPage or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
College of DuPage graduates report a median $46,909 ten years after entry, $10,378 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, College of DuPage 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 $10,410 at College of DuPage, a difference of $4,660. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
26% of students finish at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, against 25% at College of DuPage. 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.