Head-to-head comparison
College of DuPage vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Option A Glen Ellyn, IL
College of DuPage
- Net price / year
- $7,401
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,909
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Carlinville, IL
Blackburn College
- Net price / year
- $18,460
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,802
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of DuPage comes closer — median earnings $46,909 against a $14,802 total, vs $46,802 at Blackburn College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of DuPage | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,401 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $14,802 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,909 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $10,410 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$43,822 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of DuPage or Blackburn College?
College of DuPage, at $7,401 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $11,059 a year, or $59,038 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 College of DuPage or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
College of DuPage graduates report a median $46,909 ten years after entry, $107 more than the $46,802 at Blackburn 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, College of DuPage or Blackburn College?
College of DuPage: its completers carry a median $10,410 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $13,832. 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 25% at College of DuPage. 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.