Black Hawk College vs Rasmussen University-Illinois: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rasmussen University-Illinois comes closer — median earnings $39,080 against a $39,708 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hawk College | Rasmussen University-Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,944 | $19,854 |
| Total net cost | $27,776 | $39,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,253 | $39,080 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $20,899 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$249,916 | -$225,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Rasmussen University-Illinois?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $19,854 — a gap of $12,910 a year, or $11,932 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 Rasmussen University-Illinois graduates earn more?
Rasmussen University-Illinois graduates report a median $39,080 ten years after entry, $1,827 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 Rasmussen University-Illinois?
Black Hawk College: its completers carry a median $8,375 in federal loans versus $20,899 at Rasmussen University-Illinois, a difference of $12,524. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
43% of students finish at Rasmussen University-Illinois, 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.