DeVry University-Illinois vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but DeVry University-Illinois comes closer — median earnings $45,987 against a $123,080 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | DeVry University-Illinois | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,770 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $123,080 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,987 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $24,807 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,540 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, DeVry University-Illinois or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, at $7,397 a year after aid versus $30,770 — a gap of $23,373 a year, or $108,286 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do DeVry University-Illinois or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
DeVry University-Illinois graduates report a median $45,987 ten years after entry, $9,456 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, DeVry University-Illinois 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 $24,807 at DeVry University-Illinois, a difference of $19,057. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
37% of students finish at DeVry University-Illinois, 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.