Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 63.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 34/100 · Poor Value
Blackburn College earns a Poor Value ROI score of 34, reflecting solid completion but weak earnings outcomes that produce a heavy debt-to-earnings burden. Median 6-year earnings sit at just $29,600, climbing to $46,802 at year 10 -- below typical bachelor's-degree benchmarks. Median undergraduate debt of $24,242 produces a 0.819 debt-to-earnings ratio (subscore 13), and the payback period stretches to 18.1 years. Net price of $18,460 against $28,149 sticker tuition is heavily discounted, which keeps total 4-year cost ($73,840) in regional-LAC range. Completion rate is 57.5% (subscore 56) -- a relative strength -- and repayment performance is moderate at 75.6%. The earnings premium of 16% over high-school medians is below average. Blackburn is best known for its work-college program, where students offset costs through campus labor, which can materially shift the borrowing math for individual students who fully participate. The published numbers reflect aggregate outcomes, not the work-program's cost-offset benefit, so the lived experience for some students may exceed what these scores suggest.
The data raises concerns about Blackburn College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score34/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.1 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Blackburn College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $28,149/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,149/yr |
| Average net price | $18,460/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $73,840 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,802 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,242 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 471 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Blackburn College is $28,149/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,460/year, or roughly $73,840 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,838/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,305/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,242 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $257 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,802 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.82 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,838 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,781 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,329 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,013 |
| $110,001+ | $23,305 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $16,838, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays just $14,781 -- aid scales meaningfully with need. The $48,001-$75,000 bracket actually pays the lowest at $12,329, an inverted pattern worth flagging. For Pell-eligible students who fully participate in the work program, effective net cost can fall further. Even so, with 10-year earnings near $47,000, low-income students should aim to keep total borrowing under $20,000.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket sees the most generous net price at $12,329, but $75,001-$110,000 jumps sharply to $23,013 -- an $11,000 cliff that punishes upper-middle-income families. Total 4-year cost varies dramatically across this range, from $49,000 to $92,000. Middle-income families should run the net price calculator carefully; outcomes vary significantly with bracket placement.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,305 net annually, totaling roughly $93,000 across four years. With 10-year earnings of $46,802, the math is questionable for full-pay students unless the work-college mission is the primary draw. Otherwise, alternative Illinois publics like Illinois State or Western Illinois deliver comparable outcomes at lower full-pay cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Blackburn College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $46,283 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,004 | D |
| Biology | $54,587 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Biology
Biology earns a B grade -- the strongest program on campus despite small graduate counts of just 5 per year. Four-year median earnings of $54,587 against $24,015 in debt produce a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio. The program likely funnels students toward healthcare graduate study, where bachelor-level earnings figures understate true career trajectories. For pre-health committed students, this is the most defensible track at Blackburn.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration is the largest program with 13 graduates annually but earns only a C grade. Four-year earnings of $46,283 against $26,000 in debt produce a 0.562 ratio. Career outcomes likely concentrate in regional small-business management and entry-level corporate roles. The work-college experience adds meaningful real-world labor exposure, which differentiates Blackburn business graduates from peers but does not appear to translate into wage premiums in the data.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal justice earns a D grade with $33,739 first-year earnings rising to $46,004 by year four. Debt of $25,751 produces a 0.763 ratio -- heavy relative to wages. Career paths concentrate in state and local law enforcement and corrections, where earnings are constrained by public-sector pay scales. With 9 graduates annually, this is a small program; students considering it should compare directly with community-college-plus-academy pathways that often produce equivalent outcomes at lower cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 67.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 63.2% |
| Enrollment | 471 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 49.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,514 |
Blackburn's admission rate of 63.2% indicates moderate selectivity. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current data -- consistent with the school's test-optional posture and small applicant pool. The mid-range admit rate paired with a 57.5% completion rate suggests the school admits students with a reasonable chance of finishing, though academic preparation across the entering class remains heterogeneous.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Augustana College, Boricua College, Central Baptist College, and Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion -- a diverse peer set spanning specialty, faith-based, and traditional liberal-arts schools. Augustana College is the most direct comparison and posts substantially better ROI on stronger graduate earnings and brand. Central Baptist and Boricua sit closer to Blackburn's profile in scale and outcomes. The work-college niche makes Blackburn distinct from all of these structurally, which is the main reason students choose it.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn College (this school) | 34 | $18,460 | $46,802 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion | 41 | $9,136 | $20,707 |
| Central Baptist College | 40 | $12,287 | $46,789 |
| Boricua College | 37 | $15,245 | $35,348 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is small at 471 students, with a high Pell rate of 49.9% -- nearly half the body is from low-income households. The college fits low-income students committed to the work-college model, where 10-15 hours of weekly campus labor reduces effective borrowing. Students who fully engage with the work program graduate with materially less debt than the median figure suggests. Outside the work-program context, Blackburn's earnings outcomes do not justify full-pay borrowing. Best-fit students are first-generation, place-bound rural Illinois residents who value the labor-and-learning model.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Blackburn College. With a net cost of $18,460 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,802 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.1 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,242 against $46,802 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.