EIU vs. Central

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and University of Central Missouri? 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
University of Central Missouri

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • Central 12,857
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • Central #723
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • Central -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Central Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • Central

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • Central $10,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • Central $18,600
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • Central $10,740
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • Central $14,943
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • Central $7,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • Central 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • Central 5,647
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • Central 3,603
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Central 63.8%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Central 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • Central
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • Central 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • Central 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • Central A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Central Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • Central Low
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • Central 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Central
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • Central Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • Central

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • Central 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • Central $41,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • Central 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • Central $22,441
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • Central $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • Central 46%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • Central 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • Central Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • Central No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • Central 77%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • Central 1%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • Central 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • Central 4%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • Central 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • Central 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • Central 4%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • Central 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • Central 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • Central 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • Central 15%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Missouri is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); University of Central Missouri is in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; University of Central Missouri 18:1.

EIU vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Central? 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 Central ($13,787 vs. $14,943).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 12.6% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,740 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 36.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central (about $3,629 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,050.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Central than at Eastern Illinois University (about $2,383 more per year; $18,600.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Missouri than at Eastern Illinois University (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 65.9% larger than aid received by University of Central Missouri students ($12,960 vs. $7,811).

EIU vs. Central Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Central Missouri 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; Central - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Central (63.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 28.6% at Central.

EIU vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Central? 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 University of Central Missouri's (50%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $41,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Missouri graduates have a $1,209 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,441 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, Central graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($232 vs. $244).
  • More Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.