Head-to-head comparison
College of Lake County vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Option A Grayslake, IL
College of Lake County
- Net price / year
- $7,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,424
- 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 Blackburn College comes closer — median earnings $46,802 against a $73,840 total, vs $43,424 at College of Lake County. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Lake County | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,607 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $30,428 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,424 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $8,735 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$129,148 | -$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 Lake County or Blackburn College?
College of Lake County, at $7,607 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $10,853 a year, or $43,412 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 Lake County or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $3,378 more than the $43,424 at College of Lake County. 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 Lake County or Blackburn College?
College of Lake County: its completers carry a median $8,735 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $15,507. 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 37% at College of Lake County. 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.