Degree Dividend
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Black Hawk College vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?

Public, Moline IL · vs · Private nonprofit, Carlinville IL

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blackburn College comes closer — median earnings $46,802 against a $73,840 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureBlack Hawk CollegeBlackburn College
Net price / yr$6,944$18,460
Total net cost$27,776$73,840
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,253$46,802
Median debt$8,375$24,242
Payback
20-year net return-$249,916-$105,000

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Blackburn College?

Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $11,516 a year, or $46,064 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Black Hawk College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?

Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $9,549 more than the $37,253 at Black Hawk College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Black Hawk College or Blackburn College?

Black Hawk College: its completers carry a median $8,375 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $15,867. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

57% of students finish at Blackburn College, against 40% at Black Hawk College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Black Hawk College vs Blackburn College: frequently asked questions

Is Black Hawk College or Blackburn College a better value?
Blackburn College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Blackburn College?
Black Hawk College: $6,944/yr net price after aid versus $18,460/yr at Blackburn College — a difference of $11,516 a year, or about $46,064 over four years.
Do Black Hawk College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates earn a median $46,802 ten years after entry, versus $37,253 at Black Hawk College — a $9,549 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.