Blackburn College vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 513 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blackburn College is located in Carlinville, IL (Rural Fringe setting); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Blackburn College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blackburn College 11:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

Blackburn College vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or UW-La Crosse? 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 University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Blackburn College ($14,712 vs. $18,460).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 12.2% lower than at Blackburn College ($8,702 vs. $9,915).
• Blackburn College is 179.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-La Crosse (about $18,079 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $10,070.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.2% higher at Blackburn College than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (about $8,632 more per year; $28,149.00 vs. $19,517.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blackburn College than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (100% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 332.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($19,456 vs. $4,499).

Blackburn College vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse and Blackburn College.

• Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 20 at 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; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Blackburn College - Test-free; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Blackburn College (3.23).
• UW-La Crosse has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than Blackburn College (63.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Blackburn College vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

Blackburn College vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Blackburn College and UW-La Crosse? 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).

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Blackburn College's (48%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Blackburn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Blackburn College graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, UW-La Crosse graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Blackburn College graduates ($240 vs. $268).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.