EIU vs. CU

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Cumberland University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or CU 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. Cumberland University comparison
Eastern Illinois University Cumberland University College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Cumberland University
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Overview

 EIU CU
Location Charleston, IL Lebanon, TN
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 8,857 2,588
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #672
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu cumberland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU CU
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $25,200
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $25,200
Room & Board $10,812 $8,990
Avg Net Price $13,380 $18,528
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $22,145
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 EIU CU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 2,137
Admitted 7,873 1,415
Acceptance Rate 68% 66.2%
Enrolled % 11.1% 44.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 900/1120
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

 EIU CU
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%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

 EIU CU
Graduation Rate 59% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $39,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $21,729
Median Loan Payment $244 $224

Diversity

 EIU CU
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 63%
% Black 19% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 16%

Students

 EIU CU
% In-State 91% 88%
% Out-of-State 7% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Illinois University is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (8,857 students vs. 2,588 students)

EIU vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or CU?

  • Cumberland University is 159.6% more expensive to attend than EIU for in-state tuition ($25,200.00 vs. $9,709.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 107.6% higher at CU than Eastern Illinois University ($25,200.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than CU ($13,380 vs. $18,528)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 20.3% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($8,990 vs. $10,812)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University as Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 88.1% larger than aid received Eastern Illinois University ($22,145 vs. $11,773)

EIU vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Illinois University (1010) is 21 points higher than at CU (989)
  • Incoming EIU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at CU (21)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at CU (3.3)
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (68%) than CU (66.2%)

EIU vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU or CU? 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 CU and EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Cumberland University (59% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $3,600 more per year than CU graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $39,900)
  • Cumberland University students graduate with a $1,921 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($21,729 vs. $23,650)
  • CU graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($224 vs. $244)
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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