City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Sauk Valley Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College in Chicago, IL with Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is larger than Sauk Valley Community College based on total student enrollment (6,121 students vs. 1,467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Sauk Valley Community College is in Dixon, IL (Rural Fringe setting).
• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sauk Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College 20:1; Sauk Valley Community College 14:1.

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Sauk Valley Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College than Sauk Valley Community College ($8,156 vs. $9,141).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College are 24.7% lower than at Sauk Valley Community College ($8,128 vs. $10,798).
• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sauk Valley Community College (about $450 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College than at Sauk Valley Community College (about $2,250 more per year; $15,150.00 vs. $12,900.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College than at Sauk Valley Community College (79% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by Sauk Valley Community College students ($6,431 vs. $6,319).

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College or Sauk Valley Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sauk Valley Community College and City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College - Open admission; Sauk Valley Community College - Open admission.

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College vs. Sauk Valley Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and Sauk Valley Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,600 vs. $29,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Sauk Valley Community College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates ($56 vs. $62).
• More Sauk Valley Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 23%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.