Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Carlinville, Illinois
80.1% Acceptance Rate
Blackburn College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
80.1%Acceptance Rate
3.23Avg GPA
1007Avg SAT
$36,962Annual Cost
$46,802Grad Salary
54.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
80.1%
Avg GPA
3.23
Avg SAT
1007
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
967–1037
Need-Based Aid
54.4% receive Pell
Blackburn College, established in 1837 in Illinois, is one of America's few work colleges where students help operate the campus.
The 80-acre campus features student-built structures, science labs, and a working farm. The unique work program reduces tuition costs while teaching practical skills.
Blackburn College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Blackburn College is inclusive by design. 80.1% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 80.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.23 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.03 – 3.22
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.78
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Blackburn College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Blackburn College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Blackburn College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Blackburn College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Blackburn College is 3.23. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.93–3.23 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.43–3.63.Blackburn College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context, such as leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.23 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.03 – 3.22
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.83 – 3.02
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.82
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation is required for first-year admission; test-optional (SAT code 1065, ACT code 0958).
- The Work Program is the only student-managed work-college program in the U.S.: 10 hours/week of on-campus work earns a $5,000/year tuition credit, spread across 12 student-run departments.
- Blackburn pledges to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need (Work Colleges Consortium); nearly $5 million in aid was awarded last year across grants, scholarships, loans, and the Work Program.
- Naming collision: blackburn.ac.uk is an unrelated further-education college in Blackburn, England - UNITID 143288 is Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.
- Reported acceptance rate ranges from roughly 55% to 66% across sources; ranked #1 bachelor's college in Illinois and 20th nationally by Washington Monthly (2025).
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Blackburn College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Blackburn College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Blackburn College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Blackburn College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Blackburn College Without SAT or ACT?
Blackburn College neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Blackburn College Average SAT Score: 1007
Admitted students at Blackburn College average a 1007 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1007 — Accessible
A 1007 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1037 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Blackburn College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 967? A retake is worth it at Blackburn College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1007 | 967 | 1037 |
A score under 967 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1037+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into Blackburn College with a 1050 SAT?
At 1050, your SAT is squarely in Blackburn College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Blackburn College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Blackburn College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Treat the Work Program Job Application/ranking form as the real second application
Every incoming student is placed into a paid campus job as part of the Work Program, and that placement is driven directly by a Work Program Job Application/ranking form submitted after summer Orientation - students are notified of their assignment by the end of July. This form, not a personal essay, is what determines whether a student lands a role connected to their skills and interests or gets whatever's left in the pool - it deserves the same care as an admissions essay, submitted early and specifically.
Request a department tied to the intended major explicitly on the ranking form
Blackburn's Work Program runs through 12 student-managed departments (Academics, Business Office, Admissions, Campus Services, Athletics, and more), and students can request placements aligned with their field - a Biology pre-med student naming a science-lab assistant role, for instance, rather than leaving the preference blank and being assigned somewhere unrelated to their coursework or career goals.
Skip essay polish, focus the effort on the Work Program and aid conversation instead
Blackburn requires no personal essay and no letter of recommendation for first-year admission and doesn't weight test scores. Because the general application isn't the competitive bottleneck, the more productive use of a family's time is understanding how the Work Program's $5,000-per-year tuition credit (for 10 hours/week) stacks with Blackburn's pledge to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need - that combination, not the base application, is what actually shapes affordability.
Cite the current Washington Monthly ranking directly in scholarship or aid conversations
Blackburn was ranked the #1 bachelor's college in Illinois and 20th nationally in Washington Monthly's 2025 college guide, explicitly tied to its access/affordability mission. For financial-aid-focused families weighing Blackburn against other small Midwest colleges, this is a very current, verifiable credibility marker worth raising directly rather than relying on older or more generic rankings.
Expert Insight:
Families sometimes assume the Work Program placement is a formality handled automatically after admission. It isn't - placement is driven by what's actually written on the Job Application/ranking form, submitted after Orientation, with assignments finalized by the end of July. A student who submits it late, briefly, or without stated preferences risks landing in whatever department still has an opening rather than one connected to their major, schedule, or career interests.
Blackburn College Profile
Full Name
Blackburn College
City
Carlinville
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
62626
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Blackburn College Degree Worth It?
At $36,962/year against a $46,802 median graduate salary, Blackburn College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $56,200, and graduates see a 3.38% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Blackburn College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $36,962/year at Blackburn College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Blackburn College, 54.4% receive a Pell Grant and 50.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Blackburn College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Blackburn College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Blackburn College graduates report a median income of $46,802, about 15% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Blackburn College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
| Life University | Marietta, GA | 994 | 17 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | Kapolei, HI | 973 | 18 |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 985 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Blackburn College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Trinity Baptist College | Jacksonville, FL | 1007 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Blackburn College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
Degree Programs at Blackburn College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Blackburn College Admissions
Blackburn College graduates earn a lower median salary of $46,802/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Blackburn College is moderate, around $36,962/year; many students supplement with aid.
54.4% of Blackburn College students receive a Pell Grant, which is need-based aid you don't repay. File your FAFSA early and list Blackburn College as a choice for the best shot at maximum aid.
Blackburn College's acceptance rate is 80.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Blackburn College students is 3.23, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.93 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Blackburn College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.83 or below makes admission tougher at Blackburn College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Blackburn College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1007, and within the 967–1037 range, keeps you competitive.
Blackburn College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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