EIU vs. UIU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Upper Iowa University? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • UIU 3,941
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • UIU #938
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • UIU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • UIU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • UIU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • UIU $19,475
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • UIU $19,475
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • UIU $10,121
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • UIU $20,426
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • UIU $13,596
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • UIU 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • UIU 452
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • UIU 436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • UIU 96.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • UIU 33.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • UIU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • UIU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • UIU 3.34
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • UIU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • UIU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • UIU 14/21
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • UIU 970/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • UIU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • UIU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • UIU 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • UIU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • UIU $42,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • UIU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • UIU $24,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • UIU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • UIU 43%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • UIU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • UIU Medium
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • UIU No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • UIU 66%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • UIU 1%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • UIU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • UIU 5%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • UIU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • UIU 2%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • UIU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • UIU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • UIU 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • UIU 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than UIU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 3,941 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Upper Iowa University is in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Upper Iowa University 25:1.

EIU vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or UIU? 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 UIU ($13,787 vs. $20,426).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 17.6% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,121 vs. $12,282).
  • Upper Iowa University is 42.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $5,796 more per year; $19,475.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.1% higher at UIU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $3,258 more per year; $19,475.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Upper Iowa University than at Eastern Illinois University (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($13,596 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. UIU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Upper Iowa University (1070) is 80 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Upper Iowa University 970/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUpper Iowa University 14/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; UIU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UIU (3.34).
  • UIU has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 33.9% at UIU.

EIU vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and UIU? 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 Upper Iowa University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than UIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $350 lower median loan debt than UIU graduates ($23,650 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIU graduates ($244 vs. $248).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 50%)

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.