Blackburn College vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Blackburn College vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or AQ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Blackburn College ($18,018 vs. $18,460).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 15.1% lower than at Aquinas College ($9,915 vs. $11,680).
• Aquinas College is 42.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $12,069 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.9% higher at AQ than at Blackburn College (about $12,069 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 72.4% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($33,535 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or AQ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AQ and Blackburn College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Aquinas College (1030) is 20 points higher than at Blackburn College (1010).
• Incoming AQ students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at Blackburn College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 888/1125; Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 16/24; Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; AQ - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Blackburn College vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and AQ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
• Graduates from Blackburn College earn a median of about $400 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College and Blackburn College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Aquinas College and Blackburn College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.