Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College

Open-data reference.

We found 6 schools structurally similar to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College that cost less. 6 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

$7,863
Net Price
$36,484
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
31.7%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College

City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College posts an average net price of $7,863 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 6 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $7,831, achieved by Canada College at $32. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 6 of the 6 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College’s $36,484, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $52,055.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

6
Alternatives Found
$7,831
Max Savings
6
Better Value Options
50%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Lake Washington Institute of $51k 2. Ohio University-Eastern Camp $53k 3. Canada College $50k 4. Indiana University-Kokomo $50k 5. CUNY York College $57k Compared to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S TrumanCollege: $36k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public Better Value
$6,817 -$1,046 $50,669 38.3% 50%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public Better Value
$3,925 -$3,938 $52,581 20.3% 47%
Canada College
Redwood City, CA · Public Better Value
$32 -$7,831 $50,087 48.0% 47%
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · Public Better Value
$3,968 -$3,895 $49,917 45.2% 45%
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · Public Better Value
$4,456 -$3,407 $56,945 31.3% 41%
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA · Public Better Value
$6,483 -$1,380 $52,133 33.1% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College?
We found 6 schools similar to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College that cost less. The closest match is Lake Washington Institute of Technology with 50% similarity and a net price of $6,817.
What is the ROI of attending City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College has an average net price of $7,863. Former students earn a median of $36,484 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 4.6x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College for less money?
Yes - 6 of 6 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Lake Washington Institute of Technology costs $6,817 (saving $1,046) with median earnings of $50,669.
What is the cheapest alternative to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College?
The most affordable similar school is Canada College at $32, saving $7,831 compared to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 6 alternatives have an average median earnings of $52,055 compared to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College's $36,484. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.