Head-to-head comparison
Blackburn College vs East-West University: 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 Chicago, IL
East-West University
- Net price / year
- $21,697
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,963
- 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 $29,963 at East-West University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blackburn College | East-West University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,460 | $21,697 |
| Total net cost | $73,840 | $86,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,802 | $29,963 |
| Median debt | $24,242 | $26,986 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$105,000 | -$454,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blackburn College or East-West University?
Blackburn College, at $18,460 a year after aid versus $21,697 — a gap of $3,237 a year, or $12,948 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 East-West University graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $16,839 more than the $29,963 at East-West University. 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 East-West University?
Blackburn College: its completers carry a median $24,242 in federal loans versus $26,986 at East-West University, a difference of $2,744. 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?
57% of students finish at Blackburn College, against 16% at East-West University. 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.