EIU vs. Marian

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Marian 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
Marian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Marian Indianapolis, IN
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Marian Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • Marian 3,486
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • Marian Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • Marian
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • Marian Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Marian Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • Marian
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • Marian $40,664
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • Marian $40,664
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • Marian $13,850
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • Marian $22,786
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • Marian $32,351
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • Marian 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • Marian 3,745
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • Marian 3,575
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Marian 95.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Marian 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • Marian
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • Marian
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • Marian 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • Marian A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Marian Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • Marian
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • Marian
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Marian
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • Marian Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • Marian Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • Marian 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Marian
    • Business (55%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • Marian 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • Marian $44,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • Marian 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • Marian $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • Marian $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • Marian 40%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • Marian 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • Marian Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • Marian No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • Marian 72%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • Marian 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • Marian 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • Marian 5%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • Marian 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • Marian 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • Marian 2%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • Marian 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • Marian 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • Marian 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • Marian 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Marian based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,486 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Marian University is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Marian University 13:1.

EIU vs. Marian Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Marian? 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 Marian ($13,787 vs. $22,786).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 11.3% lower than at Marian University ($12,282 vs. $13,850).
  • Marian University is 197.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $26,985 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 150.7% higher at Marian than at Eastern Illinois University (about $24,447 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marian University than at Eastern Illinois University (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 149.6% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($32,351 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. Marian Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; Marian - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 15.6% at Marian.

EIU vs. Marian Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Marian? 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 Marian University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Marian University earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $3,350 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($23,650 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($244 vs. $279).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 57%)

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.