Columbia College Chicago vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blackburn College comes closer — median earnings $46,802 against a $73,840 total, vs $42,195 at Columbia College Chicago. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia College Chicago | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,598 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $106,392 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,195 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$229,692 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbia College Chicago or Blackburn College?
Blackburn College, at $18,460 a year after aid versus $26,598 — a gap of $8,138 a year, or $32,552 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbia College Chicago or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $4,607 more than the $42,195 at Columbia College Chicago. 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, Columbia College Chicago or Blackburn College?
Blackburn College: its completers carry a median $24,242 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Columbia College Chicago, a difference of $758. 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 52% at Columbia College Chicago. 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.