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 8,156 students (30% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is lower than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 53%.
Quick Stats (2025)
Enrollment: 8,156 students
In-state tuition: $6,460
Out-state tuition: $7,891
Student:teacher ratio: 20:1
Minority enrollment: 88%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
The student population of City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College has grown by 12% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 has increased from 16:1 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
8,156 students
3,270 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
21:1
# Full-Time Students
2,439 students
1,007 students
# Part-Time Students
5,717 students
2,747 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
815 students
328 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,439 students
1,007 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
43 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
5,717 students
3,310 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
18 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
132 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
% Asian
7%
6%
% Hispanic
42%
26%
% Black
31%
13%
% White
12%
47%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
3%
% Non Resident races
3%
1%
% Unknown races
1%
4%
Diversity Score
0.71
0.69
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.2285%
0.4%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.38%
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 43% 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 45% 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: 2024 (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.
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 4 other community '.colleges.' located in Chicago Loop.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College is Taylor Business Institute (0.0 miles away)
From business and healthcare to technology and skilled trades, the article showcases the breadth of options available to students seeking to enhance their knowledge, develop new skills, or pursue career advancement.
This comprehensive guide explains what a community college is, its history, and its role in higher education. It covers the types of programs offered, differences from four-year colleges, benefits of attending, and important considerations for prospective students, providing valuable insights for those exploring educational options.
Quick Stats (2025)
Enrollment: 8,156 students
In-state tuition: $6,460
Out-state tuition: $7,891
Student:teacher ratio: 20:1
Minority enrollment: 88%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
