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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC Western Illinois University DePaul IWU WMU SIUE Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Eastern Illinois University | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
EIU | ISU | ||
| Location | Charleston, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,857 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #672 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | eiu.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
EIU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,709 | $11,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,136 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,812 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,380 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,773 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 97% |
Admission |
EIU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,584 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 7,873 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.1% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.39 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 900/1120 | 1000/1210 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
EIU | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
EIU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,500 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,650 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $244 | $227 |
Diversity |
EIU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
EIU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 3% | ||
Campus |
EIU | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 8,857 students)
EIU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, EIU or ISU?
- Illinois State University is 21.9% more expensive to attend than EIU for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $9,709.00)
- Out of state tuition is 95.1% higher at ISU than Eastern Illinois University ($23,681.00 vs. $12,136.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than ISU ($13,380 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 2% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($10,602 vs. $10,812)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($11,773 vs. $11,619)
EIU vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, EIU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or EIU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 80 points higher than at EIU (1010)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at EIU (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at EIU (3.39)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than EIU (68%)
EIU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, EIU or ISU? 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 ISU and EIU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Eastern Illinois University (71% vs. 59%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $5,500 more per year than EIU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $43,500)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $1,650 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $23,650)
- ISU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($227 vs. $244)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/