Blackburn College

Carlinville, IL

Private nonprofit small campus Town: Distant 471 undergrads

Affordability & debt

Average net price
$18,460per year, after aid
Undergraduates with a federal loan
61%
Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
50%need-based, not repaid
Typical debt at graduation
$24,242federal loans, students who finished
Reducing their balance within 3 years
55%of borrowers who entered repayment

What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $24,242. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $281 a month, about $33,776 repaid in total, of which $9,534 is interest.

Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $171 a month — but the total climbs to $51,401, roughly $17,625 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.

An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.

Blackburn College’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.

Published tuition

In-state tuition
$28,149published rate
Out-of-state tuition
$28,149published rate

The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.

Admissions

Acceptance rate
63%
Average ACT
20of admitted students

Context for the class as a whole, not a prediction about any one applicant.

Outcomes

Median earnings
$46,80210 years after entry

Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.

Campus life

Campus setting
Town: Distant
Residential character
Highly residential — most students live on campus
Religious affiliation
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Most common fields of study

  • Education39%
  • Business & marketing15%
  • Biological & biomedical sciences13%
  • Visual & performing arts13%
  • Parks, recreation & fitness7%
  • Computer & information sciences4%

Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.

Athletics

NCAA Division III without football

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

What borrowing would really cost

Starting from the typical debt at Blackburn College. Change any figure to see your own.

Federal undergraduate loans have recently been near 7%. Private loans are often higher.

Standard plan — 10 years

$281per month

Total repaid
$33,776
Interest paid
$9,534

Longer term — 25 years

$171per month

Total repaid
$51,401
Interest paid
$27,159

Borrow $24,242 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $17,625 more — $51,401 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.

An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.

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Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Equity in Athletics survey. Figures reflect the most recent reporting year available and may be out of date or incomplete — confirm anything decision-critical with the college directly. Official site: Blackburn College.