City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College in Chicago, IL with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William Rainey Harper College is larger than City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College based on total student enrollment (13,988 students vs. 3,137 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College 26:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College or Harper? 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 Olive Harvey College than Harper ($9,209 vs. $12,145).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College are 43% lower than at William Rainey Harper College ($8,128 vs. $14,251).
• City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $2,028 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College than at William Rainey Harper College (about $3,276 more per year; $15,150.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College than at William Rainey Harper College (79% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by William Rainey Harper College students is 13.3% larger than aid received by City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College students ($7,368 vs. $6,505).

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College or Harper? 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 Harper and City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey 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-Olive-Harvey College - Open admission; Harper - Open admission.

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College and Harper? 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 William Rainey Harper College earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $28,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago Olive Harvey College graduates have a $2,152 lower median loan debt than Harper graduates ($7,848 vs. $10,000).
• Among borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harper graduates ($81 vs. $103).
• More Harper graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 12%)

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.