Black Hawk College vs Rend Lake College: 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 $35,775 at Rend Lake College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hawk College | Rend Lake College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,944 | $9,187 |
| Total net cost | $27,776 | $36,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,253 | $35,775 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $5,809 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$249,916 | -$288,448 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Rend Lake College?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $9,187 — a gap of $2,243 a year, or $8,972 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 Rend Lake College graduates earn more?
Black Hawk College graduates report a median $37,253 ten years after entry, $1,478 more than the $35,775 at Rend Lake 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 Rend Lake College?
Rend Lake College: its completers carry a median $5,809 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $2,566. 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 Rend Lake 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.