Principia College vs Blackburn College
Principia College and Blackburn College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Principia, a private liberal arts college, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 58%, while Blackburn, a private work college, welcomes a larger proportion of applicants with an acceptance rate of 90%. Principia's student body is predominantly female (63%), while Blackburn's is more evenly balanced (52% female, 48% male). Both colleges offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Principia excelling in the liberal arts and sciences, and Blackburn specializing in business, education, and the health professions. While Principia boasts a higher graduation rate (75%) compared to Blackburn's (58%), both institutions provide ample opportunities for academic success and personal growth. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these colleges and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Blackburn College |
![]() Principia College |
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Overview |
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Location | Carlinville, Illinois | Elsah, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 67.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 66.2% | 84.1% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 888 - 1125 | 1028 - 1193 |
ACT range | 16 - 24 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 31.0% | 30.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 14.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 453 | 138 |
Total number of admissions given out | 300 | 116 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 77 | 79 |
Yield rate | 25.7% | 68.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $39,230 | $42,820 |
Average net price | $19,016 | $19,816 |
Tuition | $25,570 | $29,970 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,230
Meal plan:
$3,590
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Room/dormitory:
$5,810
Meal plan:
$6,460
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $16,362 |
94.0%
Average amount $25,174 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
90.0%
Average amount $5,057 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $7,924 |
94.0%
Average amount $2,016 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
414
Men 44.4% Women 55.6% |
321
Men 53.0% Women 47.0% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 21.9% | 92.7% |
International students | 0.7% | 24.3% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 449 | 585 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Texas California Indiana Missouri | Missouri California Texas Illinois Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 45.9% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 54.1% | 14.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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N/A |
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