Blackburn College vs. FWBBC

Comparable Facts

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

Blackburn College is larger than FWBBC based on total student enrollment (513 students vs. 389 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Welch College is in Gallatin, TN (Large City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Welch College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Welch College 8:1.

Blackburn College vs. FWBBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or FWBBC? 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 FWBBC ($18,460 vs. $21,157).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Welch College are 12.6% lower than at Blackburn College ($8,668 vs. $9,915).
• Blackburn College is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than FWBBC (about $6,749 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $21,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.5% higher at Blackburn College than at Welch College (about $6,749 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $21,400.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Welch College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 25.8% larger than aid received by Welch College students ($19,456 vs. $15,462).

Blackburn College vs. FWBBC Admissions comparison

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

• Welch College 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; FWBBC - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman FWBBC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).

Blackburn College vs. FWBBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and FWBBC? 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 Welch College's (42%).
• Graduates from Blackburn College earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than FWBBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $31,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Welch College graduates have a $3,730 lower median loan debt than Blackburn College graduates ($22,270 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, FWBBC graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackburn College graduates ($230 vs. $268).
• More Blackburn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FWBBC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 50%)

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.