Blackburn College vs. Loras College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Loras College in Dubuque, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Loras College is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (1,189 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Loras College is in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Loras College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Loras College 12:1.

Blackburn College vs. Loras College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Loras 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 Loras College ($18,460 vs. $21,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 9.9% lower than at Loras College ($9,915 vs. $11,000).
• Loras College is 41.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $11,675 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at Loras College than at Blackburn College (about $11,675 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Loras College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Loras College students is 48.2% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($28,835 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. Loras College Admissions comparison

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

• 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; Loras College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Loras College students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 18.6% at Loras College.

Blackburn College vs. Loras College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and Loras 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).

• Loras College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
• Graduates from Loras College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than Blackburn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blackburn College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Loras College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Blackburn College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loras College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.