EIU vs. Bethel

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Bethel 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.

Eastern Illinois University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • Bethel 2,936
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • Bethel #966
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • Bethel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • Bethel $18,712
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • Bethel $10,538
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • Bethel $13,112
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • Bethel $17,700
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • Bethel 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • Bethel 1,486
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • Bethel 895
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • Bethel 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • Bethel 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • Bethel 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • Bethel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • Bethel Low
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • Bethel 15/21
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • Bethel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • Bethel

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • Bethel 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • Bethel 32%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • Bethel $42,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • Bethel 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • Bethel $28,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • Bethel $292

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • Bethel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • Bethel High
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • Bethel No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • Bethel 46%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • Bethel 0%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • Bethel 40%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • Bethel 5%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • Bethel 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • Bethel 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • Bethel 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • Bethel 11%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Bethel University is in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Bethel University 15:1.

EIU vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Bethel? 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 Bethel University than EIU ($13,112 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 14.2% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,538 vs. $12,282).
  • Bethel University is 36.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $5,033 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.4% higher at Bethel than at Eastern Illinois University (about $2,495 more per year; $18,712.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethel University than at Eastern Illinois University (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 36.6% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($17,700 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. Bethel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Bethel? 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 Bethel and EIU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 10 points higher than at Bethel (980).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Bethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; Bethel - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 32.2% at Bethel.

EIU vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Bethel? 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 Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $800 more per year than Bethel graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $4,600 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($23,650 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($244 vs. $292).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 33%)

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.