Blackburn College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Carlinville, Illinois. It enrolls 471 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes31
Value43
Affordability71
Selectivity42
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 63.2%, Blackburn College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
63.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Blackburn College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
23.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Blackburn College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,460 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,460
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
50%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$28,149
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,915
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,200
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$37,916
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,838
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,781
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,329
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,013
Over $110,000
$23,305
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,242Medianpercentile
$24,00775%percentile
$29,32890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,000
↓ $10,242
No Pell $17,945
↓ $6,297
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $9,242
Independent students $12,988
↓ $11,254
Female students $14,100
↓ $10,142
Male students $15,927
↓ $8,315
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,600, less than completers ($24,242), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
34% of full-time students who enrolled at Blackburn College graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
34%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Blackburn College earn a median of $46,802 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,802
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,100, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
5.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Blackburn College is home to 471 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
471
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.0%353
Black 13.8%65
Hispanic 9.6%45
Other 0.9%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Blackburn College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantCarlinville, Illinois
Housing
Strongly residential449 beds for 471 students
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Blackburn College offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Blackburn College is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$66M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,116
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
38
100%
$64,116
Pros & Cons of Blackburn College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Blackburn College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Blackburn College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackburn College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Blackburn College.
Is Blackburn College hard to get into?
Admissions at Blackburn College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 63.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Blackburn College?
Blackburn College has an acceptance rate of 63.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Blackburn College cost?
The average net price after aid at Blackburn College is $18,460 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Blackburn College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,802 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,460 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Blackburn College known for?
Blackburn College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Blackburn College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Blackburn College are $46,802, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Blackburn College accredited?
Yes. Blackburn College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Blackburn College?
Blackburn College enrolls 471 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Blackburn College?
Blackburn College graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Blackburn College a public or private college?
Blackburn College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Blackburn College located?
Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, Illinois.
What programs does Blackburn College offer?
Blackburn College offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Blackburn College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Blackburn College is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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