Business Administration, Management and Operations at Blackburn College

Blackburn's business program sits right in Illinois' middle range for first-year earnings, with comparable programs across the state suggesting around $46,400—similar to the national median. That's a realistic starting point, though notably below what Illinois' flagship universities produce ($65,000-$68,000). The $26,000 debt load matches both state and national norms for business degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that economists consider manageable at 0.56.

The concerning signal here is that earnings actually drop by year four to $41,500—an unusual pattern when most business graduates see steady salary growth through their twenties. This could reflect regional job market limitations in central Illinois or graduates staying in lower-paying local positions rather than moving to higher-wage markets like Chicago. For a program serving mainly middle-income students (54% receive Pell grants), this stagnation matters practically: you're paying typical business-school debt for below-typical career trajectory.

The fundamental question is whether Blackburn's smaller setting and accessible admissions (80% acceptance rate) provide enough value in networking and skill-building to overcome its geographic constraints. If your student plans to stay in rural Illinois, these estimated outcomes might be reasonable. But families expecting the upward earnings trajectory that usually justifies business degree debt should recognize that peer programs suggest this particular path may plateau early, making that $26,000 investment harder to recoup than at programs where year-four earnings exceed year-one.