Head-to-head comparison
Elgin Community College vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Option A Elgin, IL
Elgin Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,026
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,516
- 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 Elgin Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,516 against a $24,104 total, vs $46,802 at Blackburn College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elgin Community College | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,026 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $24,104 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,516 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $7,390 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,984 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Elgin Community College or Blackburn College?
Elgin Community College, at $6,026 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $12,434 a year, or $49,736 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 Elgin Community College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $1,286 more than the $45,516 at Elgin Community 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, Elgin Community College or Blackburn College?
Elgin Community College: its completers carry a median $7,390 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $16,852. 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 41% at Elgin Community 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.