Triton College vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Triton College comes closer — median earnings $41,728 against a $16,552 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Triton College | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,138 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $16,552 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,728 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $9,413 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$149,192 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Triton College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
Triton College, at $4,138 a year after aid versus $7,397 — a gap of $3,259 a year, or $1,758 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Triton College or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
Triton College graduates report a median $41,728 ten years after entry, $5,197 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, Triton 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 $9,413 at Triton College, a difference of $3,663. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at Triton 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.