Aurora University vs Blackburn College
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Aurora University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Blackburn College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Aurora University at $33,587 vs Blackburn College at $32,430. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $55,750 vs $57,600.
| Metric | Aurora University | Blackburn College |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Il | Il |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $33,587 | $32,430* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $55,750 | $57,600* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (92/100) | Computer Software and Media Applications (93/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $28,196 | $28,128* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Aurora University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Blackburn College at 100.0%. Average median debt: Aurora University at $33,587 vs Blackburn College at $32,430. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $55,750 vs $57,600.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Debt loads run similar between the two schools — averages of $32,430 and $33,587 respectively. With debt comparable, the financial decision essentially reduces to the earnings side: which degree, from which school, produces the better post-graduation income trajectory.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $55,750 and $57,600. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Il, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.