Blackburn College vs. SC

Comparable Facts

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

Sterling College is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (694 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; Sterling College 8:1.

Blackburn College vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or SC? 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 SC ($18,460 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 3.3% lower than at Blackburn College ($9,586 vs. $9,915).
• Sterling College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Blackburn College (about $5,551 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at SC than at Blackburn College (about $5,551 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $28,149.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 21.7% larger than aid received by Blackburn College students ($23,673 vs. $19,456).

Blackburn College vs. SC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sterling College (1030) is 20 points higher than at Blackburn College (1010).
• Incoming SC 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; Sterling College 938/1123.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Blackburn College 16/24; Sterling College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; SC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• Blackburn College has a higher acceptance rate (63.2%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 30.4% at SC.

Blackburn College vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• The graduation rate at Blackburn College is the same as at Sterling College (48% vs. 48%).
• Graduates from Blackburn College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $1,337 lower median loan debt than Blackburn College graduates ($24,663 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackburn College graduates ($255 vs. $268).
• More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.