Shawnee Community College 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 $32,999 at Shawnee Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Shawnee Community College | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,162 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $16,648 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,999 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | — | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$323,868 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Shawnee Community College or Blackburn College?
Shawnee Community College, at $4,162 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $14,298 a year, or $57,192 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Shawnee Community College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $13,803 more than the $32,999 at Shawnee Community 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 graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Shawnee Community College, against 57% at Blackburn 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.