EIU vs. Jackson State University

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

EIU Jackson State University
Location Charleston, IL Jackson, MS
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 8,804 6,564
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #714 #974
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

EIU Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $9,903 $8,815
Tuition (Out of State) $12,379 $8,815
Room & Board $11,298 $11,782
Avg Net Price $14,621 $19,892
Avg Grant Aid $11,122 $8,133
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 92%

Admission

EIU Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,648 14,141
Admitted 7,892 12,873
Acceptance Rate 67.8% 91%
Enrolled % 10.4% 7.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.1
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 890/1110 850/1080
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 Jul 15, 2026

Academics

EIU Jackson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

EIU Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 59% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $244 $299

Diversity

EIU Jackson State University
% Men 10% 7%
% Women 12% 20%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 68% 4%
% Black 19% 92%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

EIU Jackson State University
% In-State 90% 30%
% Out-of-State 7% 69%

Campus

EIU Jackson State University
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

  • Eastern Illinois University is larger than than Jackson State University based on total student enrollment (8,804 students vs. 6,564 students)

EIU vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Jackson State University?

  • Eastern Illinois University is 12.3% more expensive to attend than Jackson State University for in-state tuition ($9,903.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.4% higher at EIU than Jackson State University ($12,379.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Illinois University than Jackson State University ($14,621 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 4.3% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($11,298 vs. $11,782)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Jackson State University (97% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 36.8% larger than aid received Jackson State University ($11,122 vs. $8,133)

EIU vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Illinois University (1010) is 100 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming EIU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Jackson State University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than EIU (67.8%)

EIU vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU or Jackson State University? 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 Jackson State University and EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Jackson State University (59% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $10,700 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $32,800)
  • Eastern Illinois University students graduate with a $5,350 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($23,650 vs. $29,000)
  • EIU graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($244 vs. $299)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 36%)

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