Blackburn College vs. Columbia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia College Chicago is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (5,570 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Columbia College Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Columbia College Chicago 15:1.

Blackburn College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Columbia College? 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 Blackburn College than Columbia College ($18,460 vs. $29,473).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 51.9% lower than at Columbia College Chicago ($9,915 vs. $20,629).
• Columbia College Chicago is 21.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $5,939 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.1% higher at Columbia College than at Blackburn College (about $5,939 more per year; $34,088.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($22,780 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or Columbia College? 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 Columbia College and Blackburn College.

• Columbia College Chicago reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 888/1125.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 16/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; Columbia College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Columbia College Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 15.1% at Columbia College.

Blackburn College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and Columbia College? 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).

• Blackburn College's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Columbia College Chicago's (41%).
• Graduates from Blackburn College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College Chicago and Blackburn College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Columbia College Chicago and Blackburn College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
• More Blackburn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 46%)

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.