Oakton College vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Oakton College comes closer — median earnings $47,852 against a $20,732 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakton College | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,183 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $20,732 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,852 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $5,250 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,892 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Oakton College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
Oakton College, at $5,183 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $2,214 a year, or $5,938 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Oakton College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
Oakton College graduates report a median $47,852 ten years after entry, $11,321 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, Oakton College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
Oakton College: its completers carry a median $5,250 in federal loans versus $5,750 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, a difference of $500. 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 Oakton 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.