EIU vs. SIUE

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville? 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
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • SIUE Edwardsville, IL
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • SIUE Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • SIUE 11,893
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • SIUE Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • SIUE #516
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • SIUE -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • SIUE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • SIUE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • SIUE $14,490
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • SIUE $17,115
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • SIUE $11,602
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • SIUE 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • SIUE 10,150
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • SIUE 9,896
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • SIUE 97.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • SIUE 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • SIUE 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • SIUE 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • SIUE 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • SIUE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • SIUE Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • SIUE
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • SIUE 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • SIUE 950/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • SIUE Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • SIUE May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • SIUE 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • SIUE
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • SIUE 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • SIUE $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • SIUE 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • SIUE $21,430
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • SIUE $221

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • SIUE 42%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • SIUE 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • SIUE Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • SIUE No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • SIUE 73%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • SIUE 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • SIUE 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • SIUE 4%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • SIUE 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • SIUE 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • SIUE 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • SIUE 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • SIUE 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (11,893 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in Edwardsville, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 15:1.

EIU vs. SIUE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or SIUE? 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 SIUE ($13,787 vs. $17,115).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 15.2% lower than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ($12,282 vs. $14,490).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIUE (about $757 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at EIU than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (about $3,295 more per year; $16,217.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students ($12,960 vs. $11,602).

EIU vs. SIUE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (1070) is 80 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 950/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; SIUE - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SIUE May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SIUE students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • SIUE has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 15.7% at SIUE.

EIU vs. SIUE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and SIUE? 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's (52%).
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates have a $2,220 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($21,430 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, SIUE graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($221 vs. $244).
  • More SIUE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 59%)

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.