Oakton College vs Blackburn 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 $46,802 at Blackburn College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Oakton College | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,183 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $20,732 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,852 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $5,250 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,892 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Oakton College or Blackburn College?
Oakton College, at $5,183 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $13,277 a year, or $53,108 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 Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Oakton College graduates report a median $47,852 ten years after entry, $1,050 more than the $46,802 at Blackburn 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 Blackburn College?
Oakton College: its completers carry a median $5,250 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $18,992. 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 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.