About City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 4,207 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes20
Value67
Affordability58
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,397 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,397
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,590
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$15,150
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,128
Books & Supplies
$1,920
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,504
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,726
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,911
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,728
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,347
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,922
Over $110,000
$11,657
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,73510%percentile
$2,25025%percentile
$5,750Medianpercentile
$6,58975%percentile
$10,30090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $4,500
↓ $1,250
No Pell $4,750
↓ $1,000
Dependent students $3,504
↓ $2,246
Independent students $6,000
↑ $250
Female students $4,605
↓ $1,145
Male students $4,519
↓ $1,231
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,153, close to what completers borrow ($5,750) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
16% of full-time students who enrolled at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduate within six years, and 60% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
60%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College earn a median of $36,531 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,531
Earning > $25K
58%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$29,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
1.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 31% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is home to 4,207 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,207
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
55%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 47.9%2,017
Black 27.5%1,156
White 10.9%458
Asian 6.4%268
Other 4.0%169
International 3.1%131
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityChicago, Illinois
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College offers
a varied set of programs:
17 distinct programs across
11 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,681
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$112,307
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
98 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
17%
$135,421
Associate Professors
27
28%
$122,457
Assistant Professors
33
34%
$107,729
Instructors
21
21%
$87,740
Pros & Cons of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College hard to get into?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College cost?
The average net price after aid at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is $7,397 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,531 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,397 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College known for?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College are $36,531, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College accredited?
Yes. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College enrolls 4,207 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College a public or private college?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is a Public institution.
Where is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College located?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois.
What programs does City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College offer?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College offers 17 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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