Blackburn College vs. EIU

Deciding between Blackburn College and Eastern Illinois University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Blackburn College
Eastern Illinois University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Blackburn College Carlinville, IL
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • Blackburn College Rural Fringe
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Blackburn College 513
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • Blackburn College Private 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Blackburn College
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Blackburn College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • Blackburn College Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Blackburn College
  • EIU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Blackburn College $28,149
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Blackburn College $28,149
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • Blackburn College $9,915
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • Blackburn College $18,460
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Blackburn College $19,456
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Blackburn College 100%
  • EIU 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Blackburn College 910
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • Blackburn College 575
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Blackburn College 63.2%
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Blackburn College 25.7%
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Blackburn College 1010
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • Blackburn College 20
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Blackburn College 3.23
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Blackburn College B+
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Blackburn College Very Easy
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Blackburn College Low
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Blackburn College 16/24
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • Blackburn College 888/1125
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Blackburn College Test-free
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Blackburn College
  • EIU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Blackburn College 11:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Blackburn College
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Blackburn College 48%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Blackburn College $40,400
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Blackburn College 58%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Blackburn College $26,000
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Blackburn College $268
  • EIU $244
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Blackburn College 42%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • Blackburn College 58%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Blackburn College Low
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Blackburn College No
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • Blackburn College 80%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • Blackburn College 1%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • Blackburn College 13%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Blackburn College 2%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Blackburn College 3%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Blackburn College 2%
  • EIU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Blackburn College 54%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Blackburn College 23%
  • EIU 7%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Blackburn College Yes
  • EIU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Blackburn College No
  • EIU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Blackburn College Yes
  • EIU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Blackburn College No
  • EIU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Blackburn College No
  • EIU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

Blackburn College vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or EIU? 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 Eastern Illinois University than Blackburn College ($13,787 vs. $18,460).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 19.3% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($9,915 vs. $12,282).
  • Blackburn College is 105.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $14,470 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.6% higher at Blackburn College than at Eastern Illinois University (about $11,932 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 50.1% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($19,456 vs. $12,960).

Blackburn College vs. EIU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Blackburn College (1010) is 20 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 888/1125; Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • 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; EIU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 9.8% at EIU.

Blackburn College vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Eastern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Blackburn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $2,350 lower median loan debt than Blackburn College graduates ($23,650 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackburn College graduates ($244 vs. $268).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.