Blackburn College vs. Keystone College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Keystone College in La Plume, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Keystone College is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (952 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Keystone College is in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Keystone College 12:1.

Blackburn College vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Keystone 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 Keystone College ($18,460 vs. $21,952).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 21.3% lower than at Keystone College ($9,915 vs. $12,600).
• Blackburn College is 53.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Keystone College (about $9,849 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.8% higher at Blackburn College than at Keystone College (about $9,849 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College than at Keystone College (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 92.3% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($19,456 vs. $10,119).

Blackburn College vs. Keystone College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Keystone College (1020) is 10 points higher than at Blackburn College (1010).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 888/1125; Keystone College 910/1130.
• 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; Keystone College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Blackburn College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• Keystone College has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 10.8% at Keystone College.

Blackburn College vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and Keystone 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 Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Blackburn College earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Keystone College and Blackburn College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Keystone College 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 Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 57%)

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.