EIU vs. University of St Francis

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and University of St Francis? 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 St Francis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • University of St Francis Joliet, IL
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • University of St Francis Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • University of St Francis 3,074
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • University of St Francis Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • University of St Francis #355
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • University of St Francis Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • University of St Francis Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • University of St Francis

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • University of St Francis $11,980
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • University of St Francis $14,045
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • University of St Francis $31,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • University of St Francis 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • University of St Francis 2,250
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • University of St Francis 1,469
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • University of St Francis 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • University of St Francis 14.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • University of St Francis 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • University of St Francis 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • University of St Francis 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • University of St Francis B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • University of St Francis Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • University of St Francis Low
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • University of St Francis 20/32
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • University of St Francis 1030/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • University of St Francis Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • University of St Francis 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • University of St Francis
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Psychology (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • University of St Francis 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • University of St Francis $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • University of St Francis 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • University of St Francis $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • University of St Francis $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • University of St Francis 27%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • University of St Francis 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • University of St Francis Medium
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • University of St Francis No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • University of St Francis 67%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • University of St Francis 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • University of St Francis 16%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • University of St Francis 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • University of St Francis 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • University of St Francis 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • University of St Francis 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • EIU Yes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • EIU No
  • University of St Francis No
  • Meal Plan
  • EIU Yes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • EIU Yes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • EIU No
  • University of St Francis No

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with University of St Francis in Joliet, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than University of St Francis based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,074 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); University of St Francis is in Joliet, IL (Midsize City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; University of St Francis 15:1.

EIU vs. University of St Francis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or University of St Francis? 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 University of St Francis ($13,787 vs. $14,045).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of St Francis are 2.5% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($11,980 vs. $12,282).
  • University of St Francis is 178.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $24,431 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 135% higher at University of St Francis than at Eastern Illinois University (about $21,893 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of St Francis than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 146.9% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($31,998 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. University of St Francis Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or University of St Francis? 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 University of St Francis and EIU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of St Francis (1130) is 140 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; University of St Francis 1030/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of St Francis 20/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; University of St Francis - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of St Francis students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • EIU has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than University of St Francis (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 14.2% at University of St Francis.

EIU vs. University of St Francis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and University of St Francis? 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).

  • University of St Francis's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Eastern Illinois University's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of St Francis earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $1,350 lower median loan debt than University of St Francis graduates ($23,650 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of St Francis graduates ($244 vs. $258).
  • More University of St Francis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.