Moraine Valley Community College vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Moraine Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,892 against a $11,316 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Moraine Valley Community College | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,829 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $11,316 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,892 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$100,676 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Moraine Valley Community College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
Moraine Valley Community College, at $2,829 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $4,568 a year, or $3,478 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Moraine Valley Community College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
Moraine Valley Community College graduates report a median $43,892 ten years after entry, $7,361 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, Moraine Valley Community 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 $9,500 at Moraine Valley Community College, a difference of $3,750. 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 Moraine Valley Community 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.