Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Moline, Illinois
Black Hawk College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
3.33Avg GPA
$11,809Annual Cost
$37,253Grad Salary
24.8%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
3.33
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$6,718
Need-Based Aid
24.8% receive Pell
Black Hawk College, founded in 1946, is a public community college in Moline, Illinois. It offers programs in agriculture, welding, and equine studies. The campus includes a horse barn and a advanced manufacturing center.
BHC is unranked but vital to the Quad Cities region. Its Mississippi River location supports agriculture and industrial training.
Black Hawk College Acceptance Rate
Black Hawk College (BHC) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 100%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.88
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
BHC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at BHC is 3.33. Admission is competitive, but not extremely selective.
A mix of A's and B's is acceptable, and taking AP/IB courses helps.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.53-3.73 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.03 and 3.33, you should aim for a high SAT or ACT score.
BHC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Admissions at BHC utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.33, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.33 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.13 – 3.32
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.93 – 3.12
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.92
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- Institutional admission is open (100% acceptance, no SAT/ACT floor for general enrollment), but ADN/LPN nursing is competitive and HESI-gated with a hard Feb. 27 deadline for Aug. 2026 starts.
- New students accepted into nursing enroll first under "General Occupational and Technical Studies (GOTS)" until formally accepted by the nursing department - this isn't a rejection, it's the standard holding designation.
- A UIC articulation agreement supports ADN-to-BSN transfer, which is worth naming explicitly in program materials.
- East Campus (Kewanee) is agriculture-focused with its own club/competition culture, distinct from the Moline/Quad Cities campus identity.
- The Rigor Metric: At BHC, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at BHC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Black Hawk College's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Black Hawk College (BHC) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into BHC Without SAT or ACT?
The admission test score (SAT/ACT) policy for Black Hawk College is unknown. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for BHC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
BHC provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about utilizing resources and planning your long-term academic or career trajectory.
Back-time your HESI exam by a full testing cycle, not a few weeks
Black Hawk College's ADN/LPN admission isn't governed by the college's overall 100% acceptance rate - it runs on a competitive HESI Admission Assessment score, and the exam is only offered in specific windows (July, August, September, December, January, February) at the Quad-Cities Testing Center. With applications for the Aug. 2026 cohort closing in late February, a student who waits until January to test has one shot left. Book the earliest available HESI date in the cycle before your target application deadline so a low first score leaves room for a retake.
If you're a current high schooler, your nursing-pathway eligibility is locked in well before senior year
High school applicants to Black Hawk nursing programs need either top-25% class rank or an ACT composite of 20+ (if within five years of graduation with no college coursework) - this is checked at the application stage, not negotiable after the fact. A counselor should flag this by sophomore/junior year so a borderline student can adjust course rigor or test-prep timeline rather than discovering the cutoff during senior-year application season.
Use the UIC nursing agreement as a stated goal in your program application, not just a footnote
Black Hawk College has an active articulation agreement with the University of Illinois Chicago specifically easing the ADN-to-BSN transfer pathway. Students who name this as their post-associate plan in program materials or advisor meetings signal a completion-oriented trajectory, which matters on a program where "will this student actually finish and transfer" is part of how limited clinical seats get allocated.
Match your campus to your program culture, not just your commute
Black Hawk operates two distinct campus identities: the Quad Cities/Moline campus (urban, health sciences, welding, accounting) and the East Campus in Kewanee, which carries a genuinely strong, club-and-competition-driven agriculture program. A prospective ag student who defaults to Moline because it's the "main" campus misses the community and resources actually built around that program at East Campus - apply and orient toward the campus matching your major, not the flagship name.
Expert Insight:
The recurring mistake is treating Black Hawk's published 100% acceptance rate as evidence that nursing is equally accessible - it isn't. Students who apply to the ADN/LPN program without having already scheduled and taken the HESI exam are functionally applying with an incomplete file, and by the time they realize the exam has fixed offered months, they've missed the cycle.
BHC Profile
Full Name
Black Hawk College (BHC)
City
Moline
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61265-5899
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a BHC Degree Worth It?
Getting into BHC can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. BHC offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at BHC is $53,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.81%.
How much does a degree from BHC Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Black Hawk College is $11,809. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Black Hawk College is $6,718.
24.8% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 6.8 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to BHC and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Black Hawk College, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist BHC as your choice in the form.
How much does a BHC Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $37,253. An average BHC graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at BHC
Associate Degree Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Black Hawk College →
Frequently Asked Questions About BHC Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $37,253 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is relatively low, around $11,809 per year, making it more affordable for many students.
24.8% of students receive a Pell Grant here, which is below the national average of around 35%. This institution serves a higher proportion of higher-income students. Merit-based scholarships may still be available regardless of financial need — check the official financial aid page of the institute for details.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.33. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.03, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.03, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 2.93 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.33, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.