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Eastern Murray State University Western Illinois University Kentucky ISU Louisville Northern Illinois SIUE UTC Southern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University Indiana State| Eastern Illinois University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
EIU | WKU | ||
| Location | Charleston, IL | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,857 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #672 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | eiu.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
EIU | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,709 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,136 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,812 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,380 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,773 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
EIU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,584 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 7,873 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.1% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.39 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 900/1120 | 980/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
EIU | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
EIU | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,500 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,650 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $244 | $250 |
Diversity |
EIU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
EIU | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 29% | ||
Campus |
EIU | WKU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than EIU based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 8,857 students)
EIU vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, EIU or WKU?
- Western Kentucky University is 14.5% more expensive to attend than EIU for in-state tuition ($11,112.00 vs. $9,709.00)
- Out of state tuition is 122.5% higher at WKU than Eastern Illinois University ($27,000.00 vs. $12,136.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than EIU ($12,625 vs. $13,380)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 2.4% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,812 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 14.7% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($11,773 vs. $10,260)
EIU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, EIU or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or EIU .
- The average SAT score at Western Kentucky University (1047) is 37 points higher than at EIU (1010)
- Incoming WKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at EIU (22)
- Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at EIU (3.39)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than EIU (68%)
EIU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, EIU or WKU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WKU and EIU.
- The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Western Kentucky University (59% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $6,400 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $37,100)
- Eastern Illinois University students graduate with a $600 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($23,650 vs. $24,250)
- EIU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($244 vs. $250)
- More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/