Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park vs Blackburn College: which has better ROI?
Option A Melrose Park, IL
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park
- Net price / year
- $25,598
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,683
- 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 $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,598 | $18,460 |
| Total net cost | $102,392 | $73,840 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,683 | $46,802 |
| Median debt | $11,250 | $24,242 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$295,932 | -$105,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park or Blackburn College?
Blackburn College, at $18,460 a year after aid versus $25,598 — a gap of $7,138 a year, or $28,552 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park or Blackburn College graduates earn more?
Blackburn College graduates report a median $46,802 ten years after entry, $8,119 more than the $38,683 at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park. 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, Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park or Blackburn College?
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park: its completers carry a median $11,250 in federal loans versus $24,242 at Blackburn College, a difference of $12,992. 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?
68% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park, 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.