Blackburn College
#3 Best Education Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,802 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,460 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 63% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Education Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $17.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,213,306.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Blackburn College Matters
Blackburn College is a private college in Carlinville, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 471
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 66
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Blackburn 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
Competitive — admits about 63% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,460 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,802 ten years after enrolling — 15% above the typical college, against $24,242 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 63% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.52 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Blackburn College has a unique characteristic: 50% of its students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong support for low-income families. This statistic highlights the school's commitment to accessibility and affordability for a diverse student body.
According to Opportunity Insights, Blackburn College's graduates earn a median salary of $46,802 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility rates are not available, the earnings data suggests that students can achieve a solid return on their investment, especially considering the college's relatively low net price of $18,460.
With a graduation rate of 55%, Blackburn is a viable option for students seeking personalized attention in smaller class sizes. Those who thrive here often pursue degrees in education, biology, business, criminal justice, or psychology. However, students should be mindful of the median debt of $24,242, which could impact their financial decisions post-graduation.
Rankings
- #3 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #6 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Illinois
- #7 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- #8 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Illinois
- #8 Best Online Business Programs in Illinois
- #13 Smallest Colleges in America
- #16 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
- #18 Best Biology Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Blackburn 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 Blackburn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Blackburn College, located in Carlinville, Illinois, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 72%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,514
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
- Applicants
- 783
- Admitted
- 504
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 Blackburn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Blackburn College is $28,149, 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 $18,460. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,838 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,242 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $28,149
- Out-of-State
- $28,149
- Avg Net Price
- $18,460
- Median Debt
- $24,242
- Pell Grant Rate
- 50%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 61%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,838
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,781
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,329
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,305
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 Blackburn 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 Blackburn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Blackburn College earn a median of $46,802, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,665
- 8 Years
- $37,070
- 10 Years
- $46,802
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.52x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (62)
- 37%
- 100% (62)
- 37%
- 100% (62)
- 37%
- 100% (62)
- 37%
How Blackburn Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Blackburn College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Blackburn College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,460/year ($73,840 total). Graduates earn $46,802 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,287,146 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,213,306 (17.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,242, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $73,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,287,146
- Net Return
- $1,213,306
- ROI Multiple
- 17.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,460
- Median Debt
- $24,242
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Blackburn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Blackburn College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $65,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.23%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $89,399
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,523,616
- Investment Income
- $285,699
Top Programs
The fields Blackburn 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.
- Education 39%
- Business & Marketing 15% $39,374 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 13% $40,390 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 13%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Psychology 2%
- Communications 2%
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 Blackburn College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Blackburn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Blackburn College, located in Carlinville, Illinois, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Blackburn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Blackburn College is $28,149, 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 $18,460. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,838 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,242 in federal student loans.
Is Blackburn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Blackburn College earn a median of $46,802, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Blackburn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Blackburn College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $65,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Blackburn College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Blackburn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Blackburn College.
- Lyon CollegeBatesville, AR · Close peer51% grad $44,232 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rosemont CollegeRosemont, PA · Close peer49% grad $48,555 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mount Mary UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Close peer50% grad $48,745 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Central Baptist CollegeConway, AR · Close peer35% grad $46,789 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Holy CrossNew Orleans, LA · Close peer42% grad $49,316 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Bushnell UniversityEugene, OR · Close peer59% grad $53,623 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Blackburn College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Blackburn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note