EIU vs. Cleveland State

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Cleveland State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or Cleveland State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Eastern Illinois University vs. Cleveland State University comparison
Eastern Illinois University Cleveland State University College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Cleveland State University
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Overview

 EIU Cleveland State
Location Charleston, IL Cleveland, OH
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 8,857 14,385
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #769
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu csuohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU Cleveland State
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $12,144
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $17,359
Room & Board $10,812 $14,197
Avg Net Price $13,380 $15,719
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $9,436
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

 EIU Cleveland State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 11,570
Admitted 7,873 9,872
Acceptance Rate 68% 85.3%
Enrolled % 11.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25
SAT Range 900/1120 880/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 EIU Cleveland State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 EIU Cleveland State
Graduation Rate 59% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $244 $222

Diversity

 EIU Cleveland State
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 64%
% Black 19% 17%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 EIU Cleveland State
% In-State 91% 85%
% Out-of-State 7% 7%

Campus

 EIU Cleveland State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 8,857 students)

EIU vs. Cleveland State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Cleveland State?

  • Cleveland State University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than EIU for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $9,709.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43% higher at Cleveland State than Eastern Illinois University ($17,359.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than Cleveland State ($13,380 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 31.3% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,812 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Cleveland State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 24.8% larger than aid received Cleveland State University ($11,773 vs. $9,436)

EIU vs. Cleveland State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Cleveland State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cleveland State or EIU .

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 18 points higher than at EIU (1010)
  • Incoming EIU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Cleveland State (22)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Cleveland State has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than EIU (68%)

EIU vs. Cleveland State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU or Cleveland State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cleveland State and EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Cleveland State University (59% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $700 more per year than EIU graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $43,500)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $2,150 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $23,650)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($222 vs. $244)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/