City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
- Graduation Rate
- 16% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $32,427 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $7,220 A-
- 58% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 6,409
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $28.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $788,873.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 20% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 16% — 72% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 6,409
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Culinary & Personal Services, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,220 a year after grants and scholarships — 58% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $32,427 ten years after enrolling — 20% below the typical college, against $8,375 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.56 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Over 6,400 students are enrolled at Malcolm X College, making it a key player in Chicago's community college landscape. This college focuses heavily on career-oriented programs, particularly in fields like health professions and culinary arts, aligning education with local job markets.
Data from the Chetty/Opportunity Insights research highlights that Malcolm X College serves a diverse student body, with a significant number coming from low-income backgrounds. About 42% of the students receive Pell Grants, which can help cover tuition and living expenses. While the graduation rate stands at 16%, many students transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce with valuable skills.
The net price for attending Malcolm X College is approximately $7,220, which is manageable for many students. Graduates report earnings around $32,427 within ten years of completing their programs. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing careers in health, culinary arts, and criminal justice, seeking practical education that leads directly to employment opportunities.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, located in Chicago, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
- Retention Rate
- 56%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,629
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 56%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College is $15,150, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,220. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,712 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,375 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,590
- Out-of-State
- $15,150
- Avg Net Price
- $7,220
- Median Debt
- $8,375
- Pell Grant Rate
- 42%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,712
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,871
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,591
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,355
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College report median earnings of $32,427, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $26,891
- 8 Years
- $30,198
- 10 Years
- $32,427
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (61)
- 8%
- 100% (61)
- 8%
- 100% (61)
- 8%
- 100% (61)
- 8%
How City Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,220/year ($28,880 total). Graduates earn $32,427 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $817,753 in total earnings — a net gain of $788,873 (28.3× your investment). The median debt is $8,375, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 16% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $28,880
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $817,753
- Net Return
- $788,873
- ROI Multiple
- 28.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,220
- Median Debt
- $8,375
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 16%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 66% $65,938 early-career
- Humanities 23%
- Culinary & Personal Services 1%
- Computer Science & IT 0%
- Criminal Justice 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- C+Blockchain Developer$130,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
- B-DevOps Engineer$128,000 · 22% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College, located in Chicago, Illinois, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 16%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College is $15,150, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,220. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,712 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,375 in federal student loans.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College report median earnings of $32,427, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 1% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College.
- Stark State CollegeNorth Canton, OH · Close peer23% grad $34,661 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Arizona Western CollegeYuma, AZ · Close peer22% grad $36,857 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Georgia Technical CollegeWarner Robins, GA · Close peer44% grad $30,848 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Bossier Parish Community CollegeBossier City, LA · Close peer14% grad $34,502 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pitt Community CollegeWinterville, NC · Close peer31% grad $37,259 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price
- Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · Close peer29% grad $34,581 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 1% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note