Black Hawk College vs Illinois Eastern Community Colleges: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Black Hawk College comes closer — median earnings $37,253 against a $27,776 total, vs $37,533 at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hawk College | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,944 | $10,092 |
| Total net cost | $27,776 | $40,368 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,253 | $37,533 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $6,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$249,916 | -$256,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Illinois Eastern Community Colleges?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $10,092 — a gap of $3,148 a year, or $12,592 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 Illinois Eastern Community Colleges graduates earn more?
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges graduates report a median $37,533 ten years after entry, $280 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 Illinois Eastern Community Colleges?
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $1,875. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, 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.