EIU vs. WKU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Western Kentucky 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
Western Kentucky University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • WKU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • WKU 16,291
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • WKU #970
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • WKU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • WKU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • WKU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • WKU $11,652
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • WKU $27,000
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • WKU $12,582
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • WKU $12,548
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • WKU $10,921
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • WKU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • WKU 9,840
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • WKU 9,237
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • WKU 93.9%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • WKU 30.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • WKU 950
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • WKU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • WKU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • WKU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • WKU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • WKU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • WKU 840/1050
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • WKU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • WKU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • WKU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • WKU $37,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • WKU 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • WKU $24,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • WKU $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • WKU 38%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • WKU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • WKU Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • WKU No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • WKU 76%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • WKU 1%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • WKU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • WKU 3%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • WKU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • WKU 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • WKU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • WKU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • WKU 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • WKU 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Western Kentucky University 19:1.

EIU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or WKU? 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 Western Kentucky University than EIU ($12,548 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 2.4% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($12,282 vs. $12,582).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WKU (about $2,027 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $11,652.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.5% higher at WKU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $10,783 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at Eastern Illinois University (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($12,960 vs. $10,921).

EIU vs. WKU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 40 points higher than at WKU (950).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Western Kentucky University 840/1050.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWestern Kentucky University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; WKU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (93.9%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 30.2% at WKU.

EIU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and WKU? 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 Western Kentucky University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $600 lower median loan debt than WKU graduates ($23,650 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.