- 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 6,121 students (33% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 36:1 is higher than the state community college average of 34:1.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 54%.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Enrollment: 6,121 students
- In-state tuition: $6,460
- Out-state tuition: $7,891
- Acceptance Rate: 52%
- Student-teacher ratio: 36:1
- Minority enrollment: 88%
- 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 168 teachers has declined by 57% over five years.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
(IL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Colors
Blue and Gold
Total Faculty
168 staff
94 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has declined by 25% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 36:1 has increased from 18:1 over five years.
The City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College diversity score of 0.70 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
6,121 students
3,110 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
36:1
34:1
# Full-Time Students
2,015 students
1,028 students
# Part-Time Students
4,106 students
2,082 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
365 students
378 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,015 students
1,082 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
4,106 students
2,308 students
% Asian
7%
5%
% Hispanic
42%
28%
% Black
32%
13%
% White
12%
46%
% Two or more races
4%
3%
% Non Resident races
3%
1%
Diversity Score
0.70
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
23%
38%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$28,900
$30,400
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $6,460 is less than the state average of $8,019. The in-state tuition has declined by 43% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,891 is less than the state average of $10,874. The out-state tuition has declined by 45% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$6,460
$8,019
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,891
$10,874
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
79%
80%
Median Debt for Graduates
$5,250
$8,029
Median Debt for Dropouts
$3,750
$4,618
Acceptance Rate
52%
75%
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- School Mascot: Nigel The Nighthawk
- 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 the acceptance rate of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College?
The acceptance rate of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is 52%, which is lower than the state average of 75%.
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 3 other community '.colleges.' located in Chicago Loop.
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