DePaul vs. EIU

Deciding between DePaul 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.

DePaul University
Eastern Illinois University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • EIU 8,505
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • EIU #688
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • EIU -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • EIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • EIU $13,679
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • EIU $16,217
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • EIU $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • EIU $13,787
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • EIU $12,960
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • EIU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • EIU 12,539
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • EIU 8,194
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • EIU 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • EIU
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • EIU 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • EIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • EIU Low
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • EIU
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • EIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • EIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • EIU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • EIU $43,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • EIU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • EIU $23,650
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • EIU $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • EIU 43%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • EIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • EIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • EIU No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • EIU 68%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • EIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • EIU 6%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • EIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • EIU 2%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • EIU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • EIU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • EIU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • EIU 7%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DePaul University is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (21,210 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Eastern Illinois University is in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Eastern Illinois University 14:1.

DePaul vs. EIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul 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 DePaul ($13,787 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 35.7% lower than at DePaul University ($12,282 vs. $19,095).
  • DePaul University is 236.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $32,320 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 183.6% higher at DePaul than at Eastern Illinois University (about $29,782 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 126% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($29,285 vs. $12,960).

DePaul vs. EIU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul 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 DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePaul University (1240) is 250 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; EIU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • DePaul has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 9.8% at EIU.

DePaul vs. EIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul 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).

  • DePaul University's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Eastern Illinois University's (59%).
  • Graduates from DePaul University earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $318 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($23,332 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($241 vs. $244).
  • More DePaul graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 59%)

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.