EIU vs. Parkside

Comparable Facts

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

Eastern Illinois University is larger than Parkside based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); University of Wisconsin Parkside is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Parkside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; University of Wisconsin Parkside 20:1.

EIU vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or Parkside? 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 Parkside than EIU ($10,234 vs. $13,787).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Parkside are 28.8% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($8,750 vs. $12,282).
• Eastern Illinois University is 65.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Parkside (about $5,409 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $8,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Parkside than at Eastern Illinois University (about $1,212 more per year; $17,429.00 vs. $16,217.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (95% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 70.6% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Parkside students ($12,960 vs. $7,598).

EIU vs. Parkside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Parkside? 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 Parkside 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 Parkside 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; Parkside - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Parkside (3.31).
• Parkside has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than EIU (65.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 26.1% at Parkside.

EIU vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Parkside? 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 Parkside's (28%).
• Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Parkside graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Parkside graduates have a $685 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,965 vs. $23,650).
• Among borrowers, Parkside graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($237 vs. $244).
• More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkside students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 54%)

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.