EIU vs. CU

Comparable Facts

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

Eastern Illinois University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

EIU vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or CU? 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 CU ($13,787 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 4% lower than at Cumberland University ($12,282 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 103.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $14,161 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $13,679.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 71.7% higher at CU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $11,623 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $16,217.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 90.6% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($24,703 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. CU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at CU (3.3).
• CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than EIU (65.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 40.5% at CU.

EIU vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and CU? 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 Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $1,921 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($21,729 vs. $23,650).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.