Head-to-head comparison
Black Hawk College vs Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park: which has better ROI?
Option A Moline, IL
Black Hawk College
- Net price / year
- $6,944
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,253
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Melrose Park, IL
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park
- Net price / year
- $25,598
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,683
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Black Hawk College comes closer — median earnings $37,253 against a $27,776 total, vs $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hawk College | Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,944 | $25,598 |
| Total net cost | $27,776 | $102,392 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,253 | $38,683 |
| Median debt | $8,375 | $11,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$249,916 | -$295,932 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Black Hawk College or Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park?
Black Hawk College, at $6,944 a year after aid versus $25,598 — a gap of $18,654 a year, or $74,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Black Hawk College or Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park graduates report a median $38,683 ten years after entry, $1,430 more than the $37,253 at Black Hawk College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Black Hawk College or Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park?
Black Hawk College: its completers carry a median $8,375 in federal loans versus $11,250 at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park, a difference of $2,875. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park, against 40% at Black Hawk College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.