Head-to-head comparison
National Louis University vs City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
National Louis University
- Net price / year
- $12,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,799
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago, IL
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
- Net price / year
- $7,397
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,531
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but National Louis University comes closer — median earnings $45,799 against a $50,564 total, vs $36,531 at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | National Louis University | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,641 | $7,397 |
| Total net cost | $50,564 | $14,794 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,799 | $36,531 |
| Median debt | $19,750 | $5,750 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,784 | -$251,374 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, National Louis University or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, at $7,397 a year after aid versus $12,641 — a gap of $5,244 a year, or $35,770 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 National Louis University or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates earn more?
National Louis University graduates report a median $45,799 ten years after entry, $9,268 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, National Louis University 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 $19,750 at National Louis University, a difference of $14,000. 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?
30% of students finish at National Louis University, 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.