Southwestern Illinois College vs Black Hawk 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 $36,884 at Southwestern Illinois College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Illinois College | Black Hawk College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,427 | $6,944 |
| Total net cost | $41,708 | $27,776 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,884 | $37,253 |
| Median debt | $6,908 | $8,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$271,228 | -$249,916 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Illinois College or Black Hawk College?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $10,427 — a gap of $3,483 a year, or $13,932 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern Illinois College or Black Hawk College graduates earn more?
Black Hawk College graduates report a median $37,253 ten years after entry, $369 more than the $36,884 at Southwestern Illinois 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, Southwestern Illinois College or Black Hawk College?
Southwestern Illinois College: its completers carry a median $6,908 in federal loans versus $8,375 at Black Hawk College, a difference of $1,467. 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 36% at Southwestern Illinois 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.