Head-to-head comparison
Blackburn College vs First Institute of Travel Inc.: 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
First Institute of Travel Inc.
- Net price / year
- $20,528
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,196
- 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 $36,196 at First Institute of Travel Inc.. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blackburn College | First Institute of Travel Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,460 | $20,528 |
| Total net cost | $73,840 | $82,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,802 | $36,196 |
| Median debt | $24,242 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$105,000 | -$325,392 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blackburn College or First Institute of Travel Inc.?
Blackburn College, at $18,460 a year after aid versus $20,528 — a gap of $2,068 a year, or $8,272 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 First Institute of Travel Inc. graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $10,606 more than the $36,196 at First Institute of Travel Inc.. 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 First Institute of Travel Inc.?
First Institute of Travel Inc.: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $14,742. 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?
72% of students finish at First Institute of Travel Inc., 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.