Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Blackburn College #1326 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Blackburn College sits in the 21.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,015, placing the institution in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Blackburn College's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and outcomes among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,585 less than similar students at comparable institutions, with median earnings that align with the institution's business-focused program mix.
Azimuth ranks Blackburn College #1326 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Carlinville, IL, Blackburn College enrolls roughly 471 undergraduates. Retention is 67.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.5%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Blackburn College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Blackburn College #1367 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,585 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Blackburn College in the 21.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects both the institution's focus on Business and its ability to position students into careers with solid long-term financial trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Blackburn College sits in the 56.3 percentile for access and the 56.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 49.9% Pell-eligible students and 44.0% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a selective admissions posture that limits broad access. Mobility outcomes rank in the 2.6 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's low-income student population and career-mobility patterns lag peer institutions. For families weighing affordability and long-term outcomes, Financial GPS tool provides personalized projections across earnings scenarios.
Blackburn College's published cost of attendance is $37,916. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,838, middle-income families pay around $12,329, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,305. Azimuth ranks Blackburn College #618 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Blackburn College participates in federal need-based aid programs and institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA and complete the CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,242, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,107; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,015, median federal debt of $24,242 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Blackburn College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts college experience in IL's Midwest, particularly those interested in Business fields who want a small-college environment with a focus on undergraduate education. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,015, placing Blackburn College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $9,585 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 21.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 49.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.0% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Blackburn College in the 9.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Published cost of attendance is $23,305, and need-based aid helps close the gap for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 63.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and liberal arts fields over STEM-heavy concentrations. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a supportive small-college environment with strong earnings outcomes relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Blackburn College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Blackburn College's published cost of attendance is $37,916. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $16,838, middle-income families pay around $12,329, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,305.
Azimuth ranks Blackburn College #618 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Blackburn College participates in federal need-based aid programs and institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA and complete the CSS Profile, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,242, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,107; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $46,015, median federal debt of $24,242 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Blackburn College earn median 4-year earnings of $46,015, placing Blackburn College in the 3.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,585 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Blackburn College in the 21.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Blackburn College #1367 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Blackburn's concentration in business and related fields.
Criminal Justice is the largest program with 11 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,004, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 11 students with median 4-year earnings of $46,283, while Psychology, General and Teacher Education round out the largest cohorts.
The Biology, General program graduates 7 students earning median 4-year earnings of $54,587, at 1.0x the national benchmark for that field.
Biology, General
7 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
11 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
11 graduates
Blackburn College's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Criminal Justice is the largest program with 11 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Teacher Education, and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 57 students annually, the institution concentrates in Business at 13%, Education at 11%, and Arts at 7%. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied fields.
Biology, General leads with median 4-year earnings of $54,587 from 7 graduates, followed by Business Administration at $46,283 and Criminal Justice at $46,004. Criminal Justice, the institution's largest program, generates median 4-year earnings of $46,004, positioning it as a reliable pathway for the plurality of Blackburn College graduates.
Biology, General rounds out the top popular programs with median 4-year earnings of $54,587. Blackburn College's program portfolio reflects a career-focused institutional identity, with strength concentrated in fields that lead directly into the workforce.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Greenville University Higher acceptance rate (15.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 95% | $46,827 | Compare |
Fontbonne University Higher acceptance rate (14.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 51 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MO | 95% | $48,825 | Compare |
Trinity International University-Illinois Higher acceptance rate (13 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 93% | $46,989 | Compare |
Black Hills State University Higher acceptance rate (14.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | SD | 94% | $46,674 | Compare |
Greenville University Same state (37 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | IL | 95% | $46,827 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maranatha Baptist University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36103 ranked) | WI | 72% | $45,593 | #36103 | Compare |
Greenville University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36099 ranked) | IL | 98% | $46,827 | #36099 | Compare |
Earlham College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36109 ranked) | IN | 73% | $50,797 | #36109 | Compare |
College Of The Atlantic Similar quality tier (#36111 ranked) | ME | 70% | $40,264 | #36111 | Compare |
Belmont Abbey College Similar quality tier (#36095 ranked) | NC | 75% | $47,937 | #36095 | Compare |
