EIU vs. WKU

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Western Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or WKU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Eastern Illinois University vs. Western Kentucky University comparison
Eastern Illinois University Western Kentucky University College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Western Kentucky University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

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/