AAMU vs. EIU

Deciding between Alabama A & M University 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.

Alabama A & M University
Eastern Illinois University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • EIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • EIU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • EIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • EIU $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • EIU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • EIU 7%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL 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 AAMU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 7,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

AAMU vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU 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 Eastern Illinois University than AAMU ($13,787 vs. $17,152).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 7.2% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($11,402 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 36.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $3,655 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at AAMU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $2,417 more per year; $18,634.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Alabama A & M University (95% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Alabama A & M University students ($12,960 vs. $12,844).

AAMU vs. EIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU 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 AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 60 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; EIU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at AAMU (3.02).
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 9.8% at EIU.

AAMU vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU 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).

  • Eastern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $11,350 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($23,650 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($244 vs. $361).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 25%)

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.