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)
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
The student population of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has declined by 5% 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 grown by 9% over five years.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
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.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Note: Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a college search or review portal without prior written permission. See our Terms of Service.
Acceptance Rate
52%
75%
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: 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.
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.
