Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Chicago, Illinois
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$10,722Annual Cost
$36,484Grad Salary
20.9%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$3,816
Need-Based Aid
20.9% receive Pell
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S. Truman College, established in 1956, is a public community college in Uptown Chicago. It offers programs in nursing, film production, and culinary arts. The campus features a rooftop farm and a multicultural learning center.
Truman College is unranked but serves a diverse urban population with strong ESL and career programs. Its location near Lake Michigan provides access to city internships.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Acceptance Rate
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
If you're transitioning from ESL/GED into a degree, apply for the TBLC cohort by name
Truman's Transitional Bilingual Learning Community, launched in 2002, is a dedicated fall cohort for immigrant Latinx students moving from ESL/GED coursework into credit-bearing classes - participants take Academic ESL (ESLINTG 100) alongside English 101/97 together as a group, and become eligible for the TBLC-specific Elena Mulcahy & Helen Valdez Scholarship. This isn't the default path; a student drifting through general ESL classes without formally applying to TBLC misses both the structured cohort support and the scholarship attached to it.
Use the CPS Bridge Program to bank college credit before you even enroll
Every Chicago Public School has a dedicated CPS Bridge Counselor whose job is to get eligible juniors and seniors into Truman's Bridge Program, where they take real college courses on campus alongside enrolled students. Eligibility requires a minimum GPA, a 90%+ attendance rate, and a qualifying placement-exam score - a counselor should flag this to a strong CPS junior directly, since it's opt-in and easy to miss if the student isn't already talking to their assigned Bridge Counselor.
Treat Truman's nursing program as genuinely selective, and plan prerequisites around its 10-year rule
Truman pioneered Illinois' first two-year nursing program and admission runs through the centralized CCC School of Nursing with GPA floors (2.50 for PN, 2.75 for AAS/ADN) - but the hidden trap is that Biology and Chemistry prerequisites only count if completed within the past 10 years. A student who took A&P a decade ago assuming it "counts forever" will be required to retake it. Graduation itself is also gated behind passing a City Wide Comprehensive Exam, not just finishing clinical rotations.
Confirm which placement track applies to you before you register for anything
Because Truman serves the most linguistically diverse student population in the CCC system, there are effectively two placement pathways: the standard placement test for native English speakers, and a separate ESL placement process that includes a writing sample and an interview with the Communications department. Registering into the wrong track - or skipping the ESL-specific interview - can route a student into a longer, non-credit remedial sequence than their actual skill level requires.
Expert Insight:
The recurring failure pattern is students who spend one or more semesters in Truman's Adult Education/ESL courses without realizing that ESL and the credit-bearing degree track are administratively separate systems - you must formally apply and clear regular college entrance testing to transition, and without proactively pursuing a bridge like TBLC or the Incentive Program, students can stall in non-credit coursework far longer than necessary.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Profile
Full Name
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
City
Chicago
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60640-6063
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Degree Worth It?
Getting into City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College is $51,900 and the graduate unemployment rate is 5.51%.
How much does a degree from City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College is $10,722. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College is $3,816.
20.9% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 1.2 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College as your choice in the form.
How much does a City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $36,484. An average City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College →
Frequently Asked Questions About City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $36,484 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $10,722 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
20.9% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.