EIU vs. Northern Michigan University

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Northern Michigan 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
Northern Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Northern Michigan University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • Northern Michigan University 7,409
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • Northern Michigan University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • Northern Michigan University -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Northern Michigan University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • Northern Michigan University $14,277
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • Northern Michigan University $19,773
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • Northern Michigan University $13,274
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • Northern Michigan University $15,707
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • Northern Michigan University $12,012
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • Northern Michigan University 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • Northern Michigan University 12,204
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • Northern Michigan University 10,254
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Northern Michigan University 84%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Northern Michigan University 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • Northern Michigan University 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • Northern Michigan University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Northern Michigan University Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • Northern Michigan University
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • Northern Michigan University
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • Northern Michigan University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • Northern Michigan University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Northern Michigan University
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • Northern Michigan University 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • Northern Michigan University $38,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • Northern Michigan University 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • Northern Michigan University $22,292
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • Northern Michigan University $230
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • Northern Michigan University 38%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • Northern Michigan University 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • Northern Michigan University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • Northern Michigan University No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • Northern Michigan University 85%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • Northern Michigan University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • Northern Michigan University 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • Northern Michigan University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • Northern Michigan University 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • Northern Michigan University 73%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • Northern Michigan University 26%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Northern Michigan University based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 7,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Northern Michigan University is in Marquette, MI (Remote Town setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northern Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Northern Michigan University 18:1.

EIU vs. Northern Michigan University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Northern Michigan University? 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 Northern Michigan University ($13,787 vs. $15,707).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 7.5% lower than at Northern Michigan University ($12,282 vs. $13,274).
  • Northern Michigan University is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $598 more per year; $14,277.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at Northern Michigan University than at Eastern Illinois University (about $3,556 more per year; $19,773.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Northern Michigan University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Northern Michigan University students ($12,960 vs. $12,012).

EIU vs. Northern Michigan University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Northern Michigan University? 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 Northern Michigan University 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; Northern Michigan University - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Northern Michigan University (3.33).
  • Northern Michigan University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 15.3% at Northern Michigan University.

EIU vs. Northern Michigan University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Northern Michigan University? 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 Northern Michigan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Northern Michigan University graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $38,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Michigan University graduates have a $1,358 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,292 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, Northern Michigan University 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 Northern Michigan University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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.