EIU vs. UTC

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or UTC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Eastern Illinois University vs. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga comparison
Eastern Illinois University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Overview

 EIU UTC
Location Charleston, IL Chattanooga, TN
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 8,804 11,380
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #714 #815
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu utc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 EIU UTC
Tuition (In State) $9,903 $8,232
Tuition (Out of State) $12,379 $16,296
Room & Board $11,298 $10,052
Avg Net Price $14,621 $13,801
Avg Grant Aid $11,122 $9,834
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 93%

Admission

 EIU UTC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,648 9,096
Admitted 7,892 7,006
Acceptance Rate 67.8% 77%
Enrolled % 10.4% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.61
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25
SAT Range 890/1110 1005/1185
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

 EIU UTC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

 EIU UTC
Graduation Rate 59% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $20,792
Median Loan Payment $244 $214

Diversity

 EIU UTC
% Men 10% 5%
% Women 12% 8%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 75%
% Black 19% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 EIU UTC
% In-State 90% 88%
% Out-of-State 7% 11%

Campus

 EIU UTC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (11,380 students vs. 8,804 students)

EIU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or UTC?

  • Eastern Illinois University is 20.3% more expensive to attend than UTC for in-state tuition ($9,903.00 vs. $8,232.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.6% higher at UTC than Eastern Illinois University ($16,296.00 vs. $12,379.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga than EIU ($13,801 vs. $14,621)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are 12.4% lower than costs at Eastern Illinois University ($10,052 vs. $11,298)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (97% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 13.1% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ($11,122 vs. $9,834)

EIU vs. UTC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or UTC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UTC or EIU .

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1087) is 77 points higher than at EIU (1010)
  • Incoming UTC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at EIU (22)
  • Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at EIU (3.39)
  • UTC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than EIU (67.8%)

EIU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU or UTC? 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 UTC and EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (59% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $2,900 more per year than UTC graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $40,600)
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students graduate with a $2,858 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($20,792 vs. $23,650)
  • UTC graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($214 vs. $244)
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC 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/