Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC NKU University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU University of Missouri-St Louis ETSU| Blackburn College | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
| Location | Carlinville, IL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 382 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #875 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | blackburn.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $26,055 | $11,112 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,055 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,020 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,575 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,112 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 783 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 504 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 64.4% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.23 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 16/24 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 888/1125 | 980/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,400 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $250 |
Diversity |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 30% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Blackburn College | WKU | ||
| 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
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 382 students)
Blackburn College vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or WKU?
- Blackburn College is 134.5% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($26,055.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at WKU than Blackburn College ($27,000.00 vs. $26,055.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Blackburn College ($12,625 vs. $21,575)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 22.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,020 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Blackburn College than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Blackburn College students is 37.5% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($14,112 vs. $10,260)
Blackburn College vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Blackburn College .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 42 points higher than at Blackburn College (1005)
- Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Blackburn College (22)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Blackburn College (3.23)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Blackburn College (64.4%)
Blackburn College vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Blackburn College or WKU? 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 WKU and Blackburn College.
- The graduation rate at WKU is higher than Blackburn College (50% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from Blackburn College earn on average $3,300 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Blackburn College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Blackburn College graduates. ($250 vs. $268)
- More Blackburn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/