Blackburn College campus

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Blackburn College

  • 5/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Carlinville, IL
  • 4.0 1 review
Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

513
Blackburn College overview
Blackburn College overview
  • Size Small
  • Status Non-profit
  • Housing Yes
  • Level of Study Undergrad

Blackburn College, located in the small town of Carlinville, Illinois, approximately 60 miles northeast of St. Louis, operates as one of the nation's few federally-recognized work colleges. The 80-acre campus combines historic red-brick buildings with modern facilities in a rural setting. Founded in 1837 by Presbyterian minister Gideon Blackburn, the college implements a distinctive student work program where all residential students participate in campus operations, from facilities management to administrative functions, helping to maintain the institution while reducing educational costs. The liberal arts curriculum emphasizes programs in education, business, biology, and environmental science, with all students completing both academic requirements and work assignments. Residential students live in one of four campus dormitories, participating in NCAA Division III athletics as the Blackburn Beavers.

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Ratings

Blackburn College is rated within the lower 44% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 5 out of 10.

  • Overall Rating
    5 out of 10
  • Academics
    5 out of 10
  • Resources
    8 out of 10
  • Outcomes
    4 out of 10
  • Value
    5 out of 10
Learn how ratings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Very Easy
Blackburn College admission standards
  • GPA 3.23

Acceptance Rate

63.2%
Blackburn College applications overview
  • Applications Due -
  • Enrollment Rate 25.7%
  • Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$28,149
Costs for Blackburn College
Fee Cost
Tuition $28,149
Books and Supplies $1,000
Other Fees $0
Room and Board $9,915
Budget for Other Expenses $3,000
Total One Year Cost $42,064
View Tuition & Financial Aid Details

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$40,400 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

48% within 6 years
View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Blackburn College are Business, Education, and Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting. 20% of students major in Business, 18% in Education, and 16% in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting.

  • Business 20%
  • Education 18%
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting 16%
  • Communication 10%
  • Biology 9%
View All 25 Majors

More Colleges to Consider

Students considering Blackburn College are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=143288.

GPA calculator: Blackburn College GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026