Head-to-head comparison
John A Logan College vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Option A Carterville, IL
John A Logan College
- Net price / year
- $5,541
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,096
- 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 $34,096 at John A Logan College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | John A Logan College | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,541 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $11,082 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,096 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | — | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$296,362 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, John A Logan College or Blackburn College?
John A Logan College, at $5,541 a year after aid versus $18,460 — a gap of $12,919 a year, or $62,758 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 John A Logan College or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $12,706 more than the $34,096 at John A Logan 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 graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Blackburn College, against 46% at John A Logan 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.