ATU vs. EIU

Deciding between Arkansas Tech 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.

Arkansas Tech University
Eastern Illinois University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • EIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • EIU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • EIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • EIU $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • EIU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • EIU 7%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

ATU vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU 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 Arkansas Tech University than EIU ($12,626 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 15.8% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,338 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 57.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $5,005 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at EIU than at Arkansas Tech University (about $1,549 more per year; $16,217.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Arkansas Tech University (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 30.9% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($12,960 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. EIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU 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 ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arkansas Tech University (990) is the same as at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; EIU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at ATU (3.37).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 9.8% at EIU.

ATU vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU 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 Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $5,900 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($17,750 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($183 vs. $244).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 51%)

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.