Head-to-head comparison
Blackburn College vs Cosmetology & Spa Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Carlinville, IL
Blackburn College
- Net price / year
- $18,460
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,802
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Crystal Lake, IL
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
- Net price / year
- $16,708
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,779
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blackburn College comes closer — median earnings $46,802 against a $73,840 total, vs $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blackburn College | Cosmetology & Spa Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,460 | $16,708 |
| Total net cost | $73,840 | $66,832 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,802 | $29,779 |
| Median debt | $24,242 | $7,917 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$105,000 | -$438,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blackburn College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
Cosmetology & Spa Academy, at $16,708 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $1,752 a year, or $7,008 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 Blackburn College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $17,023 more than the $29,779 at Cosmetology & Spa Academy. 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, Blackburn College or Cosmetology & Spa Academy?
Cosmetology & Spa Academy: its completers carry a median $7,917 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $16,325. 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?
70% of students finish at Cosmetology & Spa Academy, against 57% at Blackburn 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.