Head-to-head comparison
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College vs Prairie State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
- Net price / year
- $7,863
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,484
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago Heights, IL
Prairie State College
- Net price / year
- $4,738
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,696
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Prairie State College comes closer — median earnings $36,696 against a $18,952 total, vs $36,484 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Prairie State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,863 | $4,738 |
| Total net cost | $31,452 | $18,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,484 | $36,696 |
| Median debt | $6,997 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$268,972 | -$252,232 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College or Prairie State College?
Prairie State College, at $4,738 a year after aid versus $7,863 — a gap of $3,125 a year, or $12,500 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College or Prairie State College graduates earn more?
Prairie State College graduates report a median $36,696 ten years after entry, $212 more than the $36,484 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College or Prairie State College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College: its completers carry a median $6,997 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Prairie State College, a difference of $4,003. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, against 21% at Prairie State 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.