EIU vs. ISU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Illinois State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Eastern Illinois University
Illinois State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • EIU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • EIU No
  • ISU No
  • Meal Plan
  • EIU Yes
  • ISU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • EIU Yes
  • ISU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • EIU No
  • ISU Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

EIU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or ISU? 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 ISU ($13,787 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 4.3% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($11,754 vs. $12,282).
  • Illinois State University is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $2,465 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74% higher at ISU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $11,993 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Eastern Illinois University (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($12,974 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 110 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsIllinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • 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 (88.2%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 22.5% at ISU.

EIU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and ISU? 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).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Eastern Illinois University's (59%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $1,650 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,000 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.