EIU vs. Eastern

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

 EIU Eastern
Location Charleston, IL Richmond, KY
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 8,857 14,324
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #854
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu eku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU Eastern
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $9,544
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $19,922
Room & Board $10,812 $10,360
Avg Net Price $13,380 $10,806
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $10,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 EIU Eastern
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 15,821
Admitted 7,873 10,174
Acceptance Rate 68% 64.3%
Enrolled % 11.1% 26.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 900/1120 940/1185
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 1, 2025

Academics

 EIU Eastern
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 (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

 EIU Eastern
Graduation Rate 59% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $37,900
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $23,695
Median Loan Payment $244 $245

Diversity

 EIU Eastern
% Men 42% 39%
% Women 58% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 85%
% Black 19% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 EIU Eastern
% In-State 91% 91%
% Out-of-State 7% 9%

Campus

 EIU Eastern
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 Kentucky University is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (14,324 students vs. 8,857 students)

EIU vs. Eastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Eastern?

  • Eastern Illinois University is 1.7% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($9,709.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.2% higher at Eastern than Eastern Illinois University ($19,922.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than EIU ($10,806 vs. $13,380)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 4.4% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($10,360 vs. $10,812)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 11.2% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($11,773 vs. $10,583)

EIU vs. Eastern Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Kentucky University (1028) is 18 points higher than at EIU (1010)
  • Incoming EIU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Eastern (22)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.39) as students at Eastern (3.39)
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (68%) than Eastern (64.3%)

EIU vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Eastern Kentucky University (59% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $5,600 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Illinois University students graduate with a $45 lower median federal student loan debt than Eastern graduates. ($23,650 vs. $23,695)
  • EIU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Eastern graduates. ($244 vs. $245)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 49%)

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