- Harold Washington College is a learning-centered urban institution of higher education that offers accessible and affordable opportunities for academic advancement, career development, and personal enrichment. The College is committed to upholding high institutional and academic standards and to understanding and improving student learning.
School Highlights
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College serves 5,750 students (37% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 14:1 is higher than the state community college average of 12:1.
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 96%.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Enrollment: 5,750 students
- In-state tuition: $6,460
- Out-state tuition: $7,891
- Student:teacher ratio: 14:1
- Minority enrollment: 97%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
Diversity
Debt For Students
School Overview
The teacher population of 399 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
(IL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
399 staff
227 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has declined by 20% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 14:1 has decreased from 18:1 over five years.
The City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College diversity score of 0.71 is more than the state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
5,750 students
2,558 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
12:1
# Full-Time Students
2,149 students
872 students
# Part-Time Students
3,601 students
1,686 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
526 students
40 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,149 students
872 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
43 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
3,601 students
1,719 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
16 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
132 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
7%
5%
% Asian
28%
12%
% Hispanic
n/a
1%
% Black
43%
25%
% White
3%
4%
% Hawaiian
14%
48%
% Two or more races
1%
4%
% Non Resident races
n/a
n/a
% Unknown races
3%
1%
Diversity Score
0.71
0.69
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.2362%
0.3913%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.6%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,900
$31,800
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $6,460 is less than the state average of $7,875. The in-state tuition has declined by 29% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,891 is less than the state average of $10,847. The out-state tuition has declined by 31% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$6,460
$7,875
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,891
$10,847
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
81%
82%
Median Debt for Graduates
$5,250
$8,187
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,750
$4,618
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
SAT Reading
n/a
390
SAT Math
n/a
360
SAT Writing
n/a
355
ACT Composite
n/a
17
ACT English
n/a
17
ACT Math
n/a
17
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
School Notes
- Harold Washington College was founded in 1962 as Loop College, and was placed in the heart of the downtown business district to serve Chicago's business community through a broad spectrum of courses, two-year degrees, and certificate programs. Some of the academic programs that were offered during this period included business, data processing, and various course options within the human services profession. In 1987, the college's name was changed to commemorate Chicago's late Mayor Harold Washington. From its beginning, this has been a comprehensive college, offering students the traditional transfer-oriented liberal arts and sciences curricula as well as career and vocational programs. Today's student body displays a diverse mix of cultures, backgrounds, purposes and academic interests. Enrolling from throughout the city and throughout the world (almost fifty countries), Harold Washington College students are attracted by the combination of central location, high quality instruction, flexible class scheduling, wide-ranging course offerings, reasonable tuition rates and state-of-the-art educational facilities and equipment. At Harold Washington College each academic department's facilities reflect state-of-the-art modernity, from Chemistry's spectrophotometers and Information Technology's microcomputers to Architecture & Engineering's Computer-Assisted-Design systems, the Foreign Language laboratory's taped program library, and state of the art computers and software. In addition to more than 55,000 books, the Library and Learning Resource Center has a media-production room with audio/video tape facilities, and student carrels with television receivers, audio/video tape recorders, phonographs and slide viewers. The entire building at Harold Washington College is fully accessible to the disabled. HWC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a Member of the North Central Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College cost?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College's tuition is approximately $6,460 for In-State students and $7,891 for Out-State students.
What is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College's ranking?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Illinois for: Least expensive tuition, Diversity in US community colleges and Least debt for graduating students.
In what neighborhood is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College located?
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is located in the Chicago Loop neighborhood of Chicago, IL. There are 5 other community '.colleges.' located in Chicago Loop.
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