ATU vs. Eastern

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Eastern Kentucky 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 Kentucky University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • Eastern 15,673
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • Eastern #886
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • Eastern -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • Eastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • Eastern $10,320
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • Eastern $21,230
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • Eastern $12,268
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • Eastern $12,279
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • Eastern $11,468
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • Eastern 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • Eastern 17,024
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • Eastern 13,212
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • Eastern 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • Eastern 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • Eastern 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • Eastern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • Eastern
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • Eastern 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • Eastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • Eastern 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • Eastern 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • Eastern $37,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • Eastern 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • Eastern $23,695
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • Eastern $245

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • Eastern 39%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • Eastern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • Eastern Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • Eastern No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • Eastern 85%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • Eastern 1%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • Eastern 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • Eastern 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • Eastern 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • Eastern 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Eastern Kentucky University is larger than ATU based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 8,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ATU vs. Eastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or Eastern? 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 Kentucky University than ATU ($12,279 vs. $12,626).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 15.7% lower than at Eastern Kentucky University ($10,338 vs. $12,268).
  • Eastern Kentucky University is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $1,646 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.7% higher at Eastern than at Arkansas Tech University (about $6,562 more per year; $21,230.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than at Arkansas Tech University (98% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($11,468 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. Eastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or Eastern? 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 Eastern and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Arkansas Tech University (990) is 10 points higher than at Eastern (980).
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 20 at ATU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; Eastern Kentucky University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; Eastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Eastern 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 Eastern (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 19.9% at Eastern.

ATU vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and Eastern? 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).

  • Arkansas Tech University's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Eastern Kentucky University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of about $800 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $5,945 lower median loan debt than Eastern graduates ($17,750 vs. $23,695).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Eastern graduates ($183 vs. $245).
  • More ATU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 49%)

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.