Blackburn College vs. IWU

Deciding between Blackburn College and Indiana Wesleyan University Marion? 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
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Blackburn College Carlinville, IL
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Setting
  • Blackburn College Rural Fringe
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Blackburn College 513
  • IWU 2,204
  • Type
  • Blackburn College Private 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Blackburn College
  • IWU #239
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Blackburn College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Status
  • Blackburn College Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Blackburn College
  • IWU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Blackburn College $28,149
  • IWU $32,352
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Blackburn College $28,149
  • IWU $32,352
  • Room & Board
  • Blackburn College $9,915
  • IWU $10,868
  • Average Net Price
  • Blackburn College $18,460
  • IWU $23,402
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Blackburn College $19,456
  • IWU $21,405
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Blackburn College 100%
  • IWU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Blackburn College 910
  • IWU 3,761
  • Admitted
  • Blackburn College 575
  • IWU 3,345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Blackburn College 63.2%
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Blackburn College 25.7%
  • IWU 17%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Blackburn College 1010
  • IWU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Blackburn College 20
  • IWU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Blackburn College 3.23
  • IWU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Blackburn College B+
  • IWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Blackburn College Very Easy
  • IWU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Blackburn College Low
  • IWU
  • ACT Range
  • Blackburn College 16/24
  • IWU 19/28
  • SAT Range
  • Blackburn College 888/1125
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Blackburn College Test-free
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Blackburn College
  • IWU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Blackburn College 11:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Blackburn College
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Blackburn College 48%
  • IWU 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Blackburn College $40,400
  • IWU $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Blackburn College 58%
  • IWU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Blackburn College $26,000
  • IWU $24,104
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Blackburn College $268
  • IWU $249
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Blackburn College 42%
  • IWU 40%
  • % Women
  • Blackburn College 58%
  • IWU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Blackburn College Low
  • IWU Low
  • HBCU
  • Blackburn College No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • Blackburn College 80%
  • IWU 73%
  • % Asian
  • Blackburn College 1%
  • IWU 1%
  • % Black
  • Blackburn College 13%
  • IWU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Blackburn College 2%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Native American
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Blackburn College 3%
  • IWU 2%
  • % International
  • Blackburn College 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Blackburn College 2%
  • IWU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Blackburn College 54%
  • IWU 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Blackburn College 23%
  • IWU 32%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (2,204 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1.

Blackburn College vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or IWU? 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 IWU ($18,460 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 8.8% lower than at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion ($9,915 vs. $10,868).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $4,203 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $28,149.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at IWU than at Blackburn College (about $4,203 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $28,149.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 10% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($21,405 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. IWU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion (1070) is 60 points higher than at Blackburn College (1010).
  • Incoming IWU 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; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 16/24; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; IWU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 17% at IWU.

Blackburn College vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University Marion earn a median of about $13,900 more per year than Blackburn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana Wesleyan University Marion graduates have a $1,896 lower median loan debt than Blackburn College graduates ($24,104 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, IWU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackburn College graduates ($249 vs. $268).
  • More Blackburn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 55%)

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.