CSU vs. EOU

Comparable Facts

Compare Chicago State University in Chicago, IL with Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Oregon University is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (2,894 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Eastern Oregon University is in La Grande, OR (Remote Town setting).
• Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Oregon University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chicago State University 9:1; Eastern Oregon University 14:1.

CSU vs. EOU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or EOU? 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 Chicago State University than EOU ($10,441 vs. $18,125).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 2% lower than at Eastern Oregon University ($11,550 vs. $11,787).
• Chicago State University is 15.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than EOU (about $1,678 more per year; $12,754.00 vs. $11,076.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 99.4% higher at EOU than at Chicago State University (about $12,677 more per year; $25,431.00 vs. $12,754.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chicago State University than at Eastern Oregon University (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 116.5% larger than aid received by Eastern Oregon University students ($18,194 vs. $8,404).

CSU vs. EOU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or EOU? 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 EOU and CSU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 750/963.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 15/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; EOU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: EOU Sep 10, 2026.
• Accepted freshman EOU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at CSU (3.18).
• EOU has a higher acceptance rate (98.3%) than CSU (43.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.8% at CSU vs. 20.1% at EOU.

CSU vs. EOU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and EOU? 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 Oregon University's six-year graduation rate (32%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
• Graduates from Eastern Oregon University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Oregon University graduates have a $8,411 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($22,839 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, EOU graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($236 vs. $323).
• More EOU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.