EIU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and The University of Tennessee Southern? 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
The University of Tennessee Southern

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1,046
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • The University of Tennessee Southern #907
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • The University of Tennessee Southern United Methodist
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $8,300
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $14,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,358
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 760
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 659
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 86.7% Open
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 26.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 3.17
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • The University of Tennessee Southern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
    • Business (18%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $22,315
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 39%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 73%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 2%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • EIU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • EIU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • Meal Plan
  • EIU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • EIU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • EIU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

EIU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or The University of Tennessee Southern? 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 The University of Tennessee Southern ($13,787 vs. $14,546).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 32.4% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($8,300 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Tennessee Southern (about $2,755 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.5% higher at EIU than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $5,293 more per year; $16,217.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Southern than at Eastern Illinois University (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 25.1% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($12,960 vs. $10,358).

EIU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or The University of Tennessee Southern? 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 The University of Tennessee Southern and EIU.

  • The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Southern (1010) is 20 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at The University of Tennessee Southern (3.17).
  • The University of Tennessee Southern has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

EIU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and The University of Tennessee Southern? 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 The University of Tennessee Southern's (49%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have a $1,335 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,315 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, The University of Tennessee Southern graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($230 vs. $244).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 43%)

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.