SWIC vs. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL with City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Illinois College is larger than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College based on total student enrollment (8,492 students vs. 6,121 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southwestern Illinois College is located in Belleville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
• Southwestern Illinois College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwestern Illinois College 17:1; City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College 20:1.

SWIC vs. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWIC or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 SWIC ($8,156 vs. $10,147).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College are 31.8% lower than at Southwestern Illinois College ($8,128 vs. $11,910).
• City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College is 56.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SWIC (about $4,350 more per year; $12,090.00 vs. $7,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 125.4% higher at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College than at Southwestern Illinois College (about $8,430 more per year; $15,150.00 vs. $6,720.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College than at Southwestern Illinois College (79% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Southwestern Illinois College students ($6,431 vs. $6,073).

SWIC vs. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWIC or City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and SWIC.

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

SWIC vs. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWIC and City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington 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 Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of about $800 more per year than City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,100 vs. $29,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago Harold Washington College graduates have a $975 lower median loan debt than SWIC graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,975).
• Among borrowers, City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWIC graduates ($62 vs. $72).
• More SWIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.