Head-to-head comparison
Oakton College vs Chicago State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Des Plaines, IL
Oakton College
- Net price / year
- $5,183
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,852
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago, IL
Chicago State University
- Net price / year
- $12,335
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,778
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Oakton College comes closer — median earnings $47,852 against a $20,732 total, vs $42,778 at Chicago State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakton College | Chicago State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,183 | $12,335 |
| Total net cost | $20,732 | $49,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,852 | $42,778 |
| Median debt | $5,250 | $30,625 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,892 | -$160,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Oakton College or Chicago State University?
Oakton College, at $5,183 a year after aid versus $12,335 — a gap of $7,152 a year, or $28,608 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 Oakton College or Chicago State University graduates earn more?
Oakton College graduates report a median $47,852 ten years after entry, $5,074 more than the $42,778 at Chicago State University. 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, Oakton College or Chicago State University?
Oakton College: its completers carry a median $5,250 in federal loans versus $30,625 at Chicago State University, a difference of $25,375. 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?
37% of students finish at Oakton College, against 15% at Chicago State University. 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.