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ISU Southern Illinois University UIC Western Illinois University DePaul Illinois WMU EIU Bradley University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Loyola Northwest| Blackburn College | Northern Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Location | Carlinville, IL | Dekalb, IL | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 382 | 15,649 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #454 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | blackburn.edu | niu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $26,055 | $9,790 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,055 | $9,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,020 | $11,420 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,575 | $13,884 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,112 | $12,552 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 783 | 25,961 | ||
| Admitted | 504 | 18,348 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.4% | 70.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.23 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 16/24 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 888/1125 | 940/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,400 | $47,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $23,859 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $246 |
Diversity |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 16% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 15% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 30% | 5% | ||
Campus |
Blackburn College | Northern Illinois | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Illinois University is larger than than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 382 students)
Blackburn College vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Northern Illinois?
- Blackburn College is 166.1% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($26,055.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- Out of state tuition is 166.1% higher at Blackburn College than Northern Illinois University ($26,055.00 vs. $9,790.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Blackburn College ($13,884 vs. $21,575)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 26.6% lower than costs at Northern Illinois University ($9,020 vs. $11,420)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Blackburn College than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 12.4% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($14,112 vs. $12,552)
Blackburn College vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or Northern Illinois? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northern Illinois or Blackburn College .
- The average SAT score at Northern Illinois University (1029) is 24 points higher than at Blackburn College (1005)
- Incoming Blackburn College students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Northern Illinois (22)
- Accepted freshman Northern Illinois students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Blackburn College (3.23)
- Northern Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Blackburn College (64.4%)
Blackburn College vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Blackburn College or Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois and Blackburn College.
- The graduation rate at Northern Illinois is higher than Blackburn College (56% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Northern Illinois University earn on average $7,200 more per year than Blackburn College graduates after ten years. ($47,600 vs. $40,400)
- Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $2,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Blackburn College graduates. ($23,859 vs. $26,000)
- Northern Illinois graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Blackburn College graduates. ($246 vs. $268)
- More Northern Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/