EIU vs. UWO

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and University of Wisconsin Oshkosh? 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 Wisconsin Oshkosh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • UWO Oshkosh, WI
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • UWO Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • UWO 12,953
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • UWO Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • UWO #793
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • UWO -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • UWO Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • UWO
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • UWO $8,532
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • UWO $16,446
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • UWO $9,410
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • UWO $12,500
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • UWO $6,605
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • UWO 51%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • UWO 7,660
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • UWO 6,626
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • UWO 86.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • UWO 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • UWO
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • UWO 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • UWO 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • UWO B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • UWO Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • UWO
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • UWO 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • UWO
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • UWO Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • UWO
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • UWO 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • UWO
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • UWO 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • UWO $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • UWO 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • UWO $23,748
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • UWO $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • UWO 41%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • UWO 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • UWO Very Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • UWO No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • UWO 87%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • UWO 4%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • UWO 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • UWO 4%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • UWO 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • UWO 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • UWO 2%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • UWO 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • UWO 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • UWO 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • UWO 10%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (12,953 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 Wisconsin Oshkosh is in Oshkosh, WI (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 22:1.

EIU vs. UWO Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or UWO? 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 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh than EIU ($12,500 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh are 23.4% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($9,410 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 60.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWO (about $5,147 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $8,532.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at UWO than at Eastern Illinois University (about $229 more per year; $16,446.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (95% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 96.2% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students ($12,960 vs. $6,605).

EIU vs. UWO Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or UWO? 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 UWO 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 Wisconsin Oshkosh 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; UWO - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UWO (3.24).
  • UWO has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 21.4% at UWO.

EIU vs. UWO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and UWO? 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 Wisconsin Oshkosh's (50%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of about $600 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $98 lower median loan debt than UWO graduates ($23,650 vs. $23,748).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UWO graduates ($244 vs. $245).
  • More UWO graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.