Blackburn College vs. RMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rocky Mountain College is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (1,032 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Rocky Mountain College is in Billings, MT (Midsize City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rocky Mountain College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Rocky Mountain College 14:1.

Blackburn College vs. RMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or RMC? 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 RMC ($18,460 vs. $20,791).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 2.3% lower than at Rocky Mountain College ($9,915 vs. $10,152).
• Rocky Mountain College is 26.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $7,433 more per year; $35,582.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.4% higher at RMC than at Blackburn College (about $7,433 more per year; $35,582.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Rocky Mountain College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rocky Mountain College students is 31.1% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($25,508 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. RMC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Blackburn College (1010) is the same as at RMC (1010).
• Incoming RMC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at Blackburn College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 888/1125; Rocky Mountain College 893/1133.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 16/24; Rocky Mountain College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; RMC - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman RMC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• RMC has a higher acceptance rate (69.6%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 28.6% at RMC.

Blackburn College vs. RMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Rocky Mountain College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
• Graduates from Rocky Mountain College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Blackburn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rocky Mountain College and Blackburn College graduates have the same median loan debt ($26,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Rocky Mountain College and Blackburn College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($268 vs. $268).
• More RMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.