Blackburn College vs. St. Ambrose University

Should I go to Blackburn College or Saint Ambrose University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Blackburn College or St. Ambrose University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Blackburn College vs. Saint Ambrose University comparison
Blackburn College Saint Ambrose University College 3 College 4
Blackburn College Saint Ambrose University
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Overview

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Location Carlinville, IL Davenport, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 382 2,747
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #402
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website blackburn.edu sau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Tuition (In State) $26,055 $34,290
Tuition (Out of State) $26,055 $34,290
Room & Board $9,020 $11,988
Avg Net Price $21,575 $23,359
Avg Grant Aid $14,112 $25,476
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 783 3,589
Admitted 504 2,653
Acceptance Rate 64.4% 73.9%
Enrolled % 21% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.39
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/24 20/27
SAT Range 888/1125 1020/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Graduation Rate 48% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,764
Median Loan Payment $268 $266

Diversity

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
% Men 44% 42%
% Women 56% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 80%
% Black 13% 3%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
% In-State 70% 33%
% Out-of-State 30% 64%

Campus

Blackburn College St. Ambrose University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Ambrose University is larger than than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (2,747 students vs. 382 students)

Blackburn College vs. St. Ambrose University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or St. Ambrose University ?

  • Saint Ambrose University is 31.6% more expensive to attend than Blackburn College for in-state tuition ($34,290.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.6% higher at St. Ambrose University than Blackburn College ($34,290.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Blackburn College than St. Ambrose University ($21,575 vs. $23,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 32.9% lower than costs at Saint Ambrose University ($9,020 vs. $11,988)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Blackburn College as Saint Ambrose University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Ambrose University students is 80.5% larger than aid received Blackburn College ($25,476 vs. $14,112)

Blackburn College vs. St. Ambrose University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College or St. Ambrose University ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St. Ambrose University or Blackburn College .

  • The average SAT score at Saint Ambrose University (1050) is 45 points higher than at Blackburn College (1005)
  • Incoming St. Ambrose University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Blackburn College (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Ambrose University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Blackburn College (3.23)
  • St. Ambrose University has a higher acceptance rate (73.9%) than Blackburn College (64.4%)

Blackburn College vs. St. Ambrose University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Blackburn College or St. Ambrose University ? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between St. Ambrose University and Blackburn College.

  • The graduation rate at St. Ambrose University is higher than Blackburn College (62% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Ambrose University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Blackburn College graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $40,400)
  • Saint Ambrose University students graduate with a $236 lower median federal student loan debt than Blackburn College graduates. ($25,764 vs. $26,000)
  • St. Ambrose University graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Blackburn College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
  • More St. Ambrose University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/