Oakton College vs Black Hawk College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Oakton College comes closer — median earnings $47,852 against a $20,732 total, vs $37,253 at Black Hawk College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakton College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,183 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $20,732 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,852 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $5,250 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,892 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Oakton College or Black Hawk College?
Oakton College, at $5,183 a year after aid versus $6,944 — a gap of $1,761 a year, or $7,044 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Oakton College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
Oakton College graduates report a median $47,852 ten years after entry, $10,599 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, Oakton College or Black Hawk College?
Oakton College: its completers carry a median $5,250 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $3,125. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Black Hawk College, against 37% at Oakton 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.