Blackburn College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College

Should I go to Blackburn College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Blackburn College or Iowa Wesleyan College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Defiance College
Blackburn College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College comparison
Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Location Carlinville, IL Mount Pleasant, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 382 871
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website blackburn.edu iwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $26,055 $33,550
Tuition (Out of State) $26,055 $33,550
Room & Board $9,020 $11,340
Avg Net Price $21,575 $20,074
Avg Grant Aid $14,112 $26,670
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 783 2,975
Admitted 504 2,404
Acceptance Rate 64.4% 80.8%
Enrolled % 21% 8%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.02
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/24 16/22
SAT Range 888/1125 830/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 48% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $36,900
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
% Men 44% 56%
% Women 56% 44%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 52%
% Black 13% 9%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 24%

Students

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
% In-State 70% 25%
% Out-of-State 30% 60%

Campus

Blackburn College Iowa Wesleyan College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is larger than than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (871 students vs. 382 students)

Blackburn College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Iowa Wesleyan College?

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is 28.8% more expensive to attend than Blackburn College for in-state tuition ($33,550.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 28.8% higher at Iowa Wesleyan College than Blackburn College ($33,550.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa Wesleyan College than Blackburn College ($20,074 vs. $21,575)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 25.7% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($9,020 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Blackburn College than Iowa Wesleyan College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Wesleyan College students is 89% larger than aid received Blackburn College ($26,670 vs. $14,112)

Blackburn College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Iowa Wesleyan College or Blackburn College .

  • The average SAT score at Blackburn College (1005) is 56 points higher than at Iowa Wesleyan College (949)
  • Incoming Blackburn College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Blackburn College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Blackburn College (64.4%)

Blackburn College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Blackburn College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Iowa Wesleyan College and Blackburn College.

  • The graduation rate at Blackburn College is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (48% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Blackburn College earn on average $3,500 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $36,900)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Blackburn College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Blackburn College graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Blackburn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Wesleyan College 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/