Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Western Illinois University ISU Northern Illinois SIUE Southern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University Indiana State Central Northern Michigan University DePaul Bradley CSU| Eastern Illinois University | Purdue University Northwest | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Location | Charleston, IL | Hammond, Indiana | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,804 | 8,679 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #714 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | eiu.edu | pnw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,903 | $7,594 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,379 | $14,795 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,298 | $9,097 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,621 | $9,637 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,122 | $6,420 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 85% |
Admission |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,648 | 6,394 | ||
| Admitted | 7,892 | 4,516 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.8% | 70.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.4% | 26.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.39 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 16/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 890/1110 | 920/1140 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,500 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,650 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $244 | N/A |
Diversity |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 14% | ||
Campus |
EIU | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Eastern Illinois University is larger than than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (8,804 students vs. 8,679 students)
EIU vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, EIU or Purdue Northwest?
- Eastern Illinois University is 30.4% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($9,903.00 vs. $7,594.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.5% higher at Purdue Northwest than Eastern Illinois University ($14,795.00 vs. $12,379.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than EIU ($9,637 vs. $14,621)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 24.2% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($9,097 vs. $11,298)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Purdue University Northwest (97% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 73.2% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($11,122 vs. $6,420)
EIU vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or EIU .
- Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
- Purdue Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than EIU (67.8%)
EIU vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, EIU or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and EIU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/