ABAC vs. EIU

Deciding between Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Eastern Illinois University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Eastern Illinois University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ABAC Tifton, GA
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • ABAC Remote Town
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ABAC 3,825
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • ABAC Public 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ABAC
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ABAC -
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • ABAC Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ABAC
  • EIU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ABAC $3,268
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ABAC $10,588
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • ABAC $9,800
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • ABAC $7,308
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ABAC $6,747
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ABAC 91%
  • EIU 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ABAC 2,694
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • ABAC 2,040
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ABAC 75.7%
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ABAC 47.1%
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ABAC 970
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • ABAC 19
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • ABAC 2.85
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ABAC B
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ABAC Extremely Easy
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ABAC
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ABAC 17/22
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • ABAC 860/1080
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ABAC Test optional
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ABAC
  • EIU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ABAC 21:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ABAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (62%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (1%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ABAC -
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ABAC $34,800
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ABAC 41%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ABAC $16,500
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ABAC $170
  • EIU $244
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ABAC 39%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • ABAC 61%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ABAC Low
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ABAC No
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • ABAC 79%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • ABAC 1%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • ABAC 11%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ABAC 7%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ABAC 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ABAC 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ABAC 1%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • ABAC 1%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ABAC 0%
  • EIU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ABAC 89%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ABAC 10%
  • EIU 7%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ABAC Yes
  • EIU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ABAC No
  • EIU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ABAC Yes
  • EIU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ABAC No
  • EIU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ABAC No
  • EIU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than ABAC based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,825 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is located in Tifton, GA (Remote Town setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 21:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

ABAC vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ABAC or EIU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College than EIU ($7,308 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are 20.2% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($9,800 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 318.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ABAC (about $10,411 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $3,268.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.2% higher at EIU than at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (about $5,629 more per year; $16,217.00 vs. $10,588.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 92.1% larger than aid received by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students ($12,960 vs. $6,747).

ABAC vs. EIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ABAC or EIU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between EIU and ABAC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 20 points higher than at ABAC (970).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 860/1080; Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 17/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ABAC - Test optional; EIU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at ABAC (2.85).
  • ABAC has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.1% at ABAC vs. 9.8% at EIU.

ABAC vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ABAC and EIU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than ABAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $34,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduates have a $7,150 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($16,500 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, ABAC graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($170 vs. $244).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ABAC students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.