What Blackburn College does

Blackburn College is a private, nonprofit, four-year liberal arts college located in Carlinville, Illinois, on an 80-acre campus. It operates traditional undergraduate bachelor's degree programs alongside the only student-led college work program in the nation, in which students earn tuition credits while developing professional skills through campus employment. The college positions itself as one of the most affordable private colleges in Illinois, charging $5,870 per semester for its online Teacher Licensure Program (2026-2027) and $12,500 per semester for its Online Early Childhood Education Program, with no out-of-state fees. It also distributes nearly $5 million in financial assistance annually through grants, scholarships, loans, and the work program.

The college serves a horizontal customer base spanning traditional undergraduates, transfer students (including a Lincoln College LINC pathway), international students, career changers seeking teaching licensure, and working early childhood education professionals. Customer acquisition channels include direct undergraduate admissions, the Common App, Open House events with instant admissions decisions, and online professional education. Revenue is generated primarily from tuition and fees, supplemented by donations and fundraising through the Institutional Advancement office, and facility rentals for external groups.

Recent strategic moves include the appointment of Larry K. Lee as the 20th President in July 2024, the launch of online Teacher Licensure and Early Childhood Education programs, and partnerships with Golden Apple Accelerators (tuition/stipend coverage), Gateways to Opportunity (credentialing), and the Common App (distribution). The college reports a 96% Illinois teaching license success rate for Teacher Licensure completers and was ranked #1 bachelor's college in Illinois and 20th nationally by Washington Monthly's 2025 college guide. Operationally, Blackburn runs 20+ NCAA and Club Sports teams hosting 100+ events annually, and the college remains independently governed by a Board of Trustees with no parent company or external ownership structure.

Name

Blackburn College

Legal name

Blackburn College

Website

https://blackburn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Blackburn College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college in Carlinville, Illinois, offering bachelor's degrees, an online Teacher Licensure Program, and an online Early Childhood Education Program, distinguished by the only student-led college work program in the nation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Online professional education
• Teacher licensure programs
• Student work programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlinville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Blackburn College generates primary revenue from student tuition and fees. The college is described as one of the most affordable private colleges in Illinois, with tuition of $5,870 per semester for the Teacher Licensure Program (2026-2027) and $12,500 per semester for the Online Early Childhood Education Program. The college offers a work program that provides tuition credits to students.
2. Financial Aid Distribution: The college distributes approximately $5 million annually in financial assistance to students through grants, scholarships, loans, and the work program.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The college generates revenue through charitable donations via its Institutional Advancement office, including annual Giving Day events, the Blackburn Fund, estate gifts, stock transfers, and real estate gifts.
4. Facility Rentals: The college offers campus facilities for rent to external groups for meetings, conferences, workshops, special events, camps, and stage performances. Rental venues include classrooms, conference rooms, lecture halls, athletic facilities, and event spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blackburn College is a private nonprofit four-year college in Carlinville, Illinois, offering residential undergraduate bachelor's degree programs, online professional education in teacher licensure and early childhood education, and the nation's only student-led work program that provides tuition credits while developing professional skills. The college serves traditional students, transfer students, international students, career changers pursuing Illinois teaching licensure, and working early childhood education professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Early Childhood Education Program: Online Early Childhood Education Program for students with Associate's degrees or 60+ credits seeking bachelor's completion
• Teacher Licensure Program
• Work Program

Products and services

• Resident Undergraduate Bachelor's Degree Programs Four-year residential bachelor's degree programs offered at Blackburn College's Carlinville, Illinois campus, integrating the student-led work program that provides tuition credits alongside professional skill development. Designed for traditional first-time freshmen and transfer students pursuing an affordable private college education.
• Online Teacher Licensure Program Three-semester accelerated online program preparing candidates for Illinois teaching licensure, with 96% of completers earning licensure. The only program in Illinois offering a Special Education pathway through this route. Intended for career changers holding a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and for Golden Apple Accelerators participants.
• Online Early Childhood Education Program Fully online bachelor completion program for early childhood education professionals with an Associate's degree or 60+ credits. Aligned with the Gateways to Opportunity Competency Framework and NAEYC standards, with graduates earning Level 5 Gateways credentials upon completion. Designed for working early childhood educators seeking career advancement and certification.
• Student-Led Work Program Campus-based student-led work program unique to Blackburn College where students operate college jobs, earn tuition credits weekly toward their degree costs, and develop professional skills applicable to post-graduation careers. Provides dual benefit of affordability and career-readiness.
• Campus Facility Rentals Rental of campus facilities—including classrooms, conference rooms, lecture halls, athletic facilities, and event spaces—to external groups for meetings, conferences, workshops, special events, camps, and stage performances. Managed by the Blackburn College Facilities Rental Office.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of Teacher Licensure Program completers successfully earn their Illinois teaching license
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Golden Apple AcceleratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackburn College was one of the first higher education partners for Golden Apple's Accelerators initiative in 2019. Golden Apple covers tuition and fees at Blackburn for aspiring educators while also providing a stipend to help alleviate participants' financial pressures. This partnership addresses the teacher shortage crisis in Illinois by accelerating training and mentoring of highly qualified educators for areas most in need. 96% of Teacher Licensure Program completers have successfully earned their Illinois teaching license through this partnership.
• Common AppcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlackburn College accepts applications through the Common Application, providing access to millions of prospective students nationwide who use the Common App platform to apply to multiple colleges simultaneously.
• The Wood DuckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Wood Duck bar and grill serves as the exclusive sponsor for Giving Day 2026's Week of Help & Hope, a week of community engagement activities leading up to the annual Giving Day fundraising event.
• Local Carlinville Businesses (Week of Help & Hope)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Carlinville businesses including Hawthorn Tree Coffeehouse, Taylor's Mexican Chili Parlor, 1917 Home Decor & Co., and Crowe Boot & Shoe Co. donate a percentage of proceeds during designated sponsorship hours to support Blackburn's Giving Day student fundraising efforts.
• Gateways to OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackburn's Online Early Childhood Education Program aligns with Gateways to Opportunity Competency Framework and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards. Graduates earn level 5 Gateways credentials upon completion.
• Illinois Licensure Testing SystemcoreOthersContent Area Tests administered through Illinois Licensure Testing System are required by the State of Illinois to officially earn a teaching license. These are state-mandated assessments not affiliated with Blackburn College.
• Lincoln College (LINC Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer pathway program for Lincoln College students transitioning to complete their bachelor's degrees at Blackburn College.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Eureka College: Very small private liberal arts college in Eureka, IL with a historic mission focused on access and affordability. Directly comparable to Blackburn in size, rural Illinois location, and access-oriented mission.
• Augustana College: Private liberal arts college in Rock Island, IL affiliated with the Lutheran tradition. Comparable to Blackburn as an Illinois private bachelor's-focused institution with similar residential undergraduate model.
• Principia College: Small private 4-year residential liberal arts college in Elsah, IL. Directly comparable to Blackburn in mission, scale (small enrollment), private nonprofit status, and Illinois private college market positioning.
• Greenville University: Small private Christian university in Greenville, IL with similar tuition affordability focus and undergraduate residential model. Comparable in scale, Illinois market, and emphasis on access for underrepresented students.
• Quincy University: Small private nonprofit Catholic university in Quincy, IL offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable to Blackburn as a small private Illinois institution serving traditional and transfer students with tuition-driven revenue.
• North Central College: Private liberal arts college in Naperville, IL offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable as an Illinois private college competitor with similar tuition positioning and undergraduate residential model.
• Lake Forest College: Private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, IL with a residential undergraduate focus. Comparable as an Illinois private bachelor's college with similar enrollment size and mission of providing transformative undergraduate education.
• McKendree University: Small private university in Lebanon, IL offering undergraduate and graduate programs with similar affordability positioning. Comparable in scale, private nonprofit status, and Illinois private college competitive set.
• Millikin University: Private university in Decatur, IL focused on performance-based learning and undergraduate education. Comparable as a small Illinois private institution with similar tuition range and traditional student focus.
• Benedictine University: Private Catholic university in Lisle, IL offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. Comparable as an Illinois private institution with online program expansion similar to Blackburn's Teacher Licensure and Early Childhood offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlckbrnAdmssn
• Facebookfacebook.com/151934611914
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackburn-college-uk-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackburn College