EIU vs. IU Northwest

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Indiana University Northwest? 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
Indiana University Northwest

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • IU Northwest #875
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • IU Northwest -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • IU Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • IU Northwest

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • IU Northwest 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • IU Northwest 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • IU Northwest B
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • IU Northwest Low
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • IU Northwest 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • IU Northwest 910/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • IU Northwest

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • IU Northwest $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • IU Northwest 27%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • IU Northwest 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • IU Northwest High
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • IU Northwest No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • IU Northwest 55%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • IU Northwest 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • IU Northwest 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • IU Northwest 20%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • IU Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • IU Northwest 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • IU Northwest 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • IU Northwest 4%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Indiana University Northwest is in Gary, IN (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Indiana University Northwest 15:1.

EIU vs. IU Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or IU Northwest? 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 Indiana University Northwest than EIU ($5,745 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 10.7% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,972 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 62.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU Northwest (about $5,255 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.7% higher at IU Northwest than at Eastern Illinois University (about $6,594 more per year; $22,811.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Indiana University Northwest (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 55.6% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($12,960 vs. $8,327).

EIU vs. IU Northwest Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Northwest (1050) is 60 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Indiana University Northwest 910/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsIndiana University Northwest 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; IU Northwest - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at IU Northwest (3.14).
  • IU Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (73.4%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 23.5% at IU Northwest.

EIU vs. IU Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and IU Northwest? 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 Indiana University Northwest's (23%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than IU Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $39,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $1,380 lower median loan debt than IU Northwest graduates ($23,650 vs. $25,030).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU Northwest graduates ($244 vs. $258).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 33%)

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.