Eastern vs. BAC

Should I go to Eastern Kentucky University or Belmont Abbey College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eastern or BAC 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

WKU NKU Kentucky Wingate University Morehead State University GWU Louisville Cumberland College Lenoir-Rhyne University ETSU Murray State University Liberty University
Eastern Kentucky University vs. Belmont Abbey College comparison
Eastern Kentucky University Belmont Abbey College College 3 College 4
Eastern Kentucky University Belmont Abbey College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Eastern BAC
Location Richmond, KY Belmont, NC
Setting Distant Town Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 14,324 1,501
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #854 #921
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eku.edu belmontabbeycollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eastern BAC
Tuition (In State) $9,544 $18,500
Tuition (Out of State) $19,922 $18,500
Room & Board $10,360 $11,658
Avg Net Price $10,806 $23,522
Avg Grant Aid $10,583 $9,266
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

 Eastern BAC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,821 2,757
Admitted 10,174 2,679
Acceptance Rate 64.3% 97.2%
Enrolled % 26.9% 14.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.32
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 18/26
SAT Range 940/1185 950/1140
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

 Eastern BAC
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 Eastern BAC
Graduation Rate 38% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $41,900
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,695 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $279

Diversity

 Eastern BAC
% Men 39% 53%
% Women 61% 47%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 45%
% Black 6% 22%
% Hispanic 2% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 28%

Students

 Eastern BAC
% In-State 91% 37%
% Out-of-State 9% 57%

Campus

 Eastern BAC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Kentucky University is larger than than BAC based on total student enrollment (14,324 students vs. 1,501 students)

Eastern vs. BAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eastern or BAC?

  • Belmont Abbey College is 93.8% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($18,500.00 vs. $9,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.7% higher at Eastern than Belmont Abbey College ($19,922.00 vs. $18,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than BAC ($10,806 vs. $23,522)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 12.5% lower than costs at Belmont Abbey College ($10,360 vs. $11,658)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Belmont Abbey College than Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students is 14.2% larger than aid received Belmont Abbey College ($10,583 vs. $9,266)

Eastern vs. BAC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Eastern or BAC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BAC or Eastern .

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Kentucky University (1028) is 7 points higher than at BAC (1021)
  • Incoming Eastern students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at BAC (22)
  • Accepted freshman Eastern students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at BAC (3.32)
  • BAC has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Eastern (64.3%)

Eastern vs. BAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eastern or BAC? 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 BAC and Eastern.

  • The graduation rate at Eastern is the same as at Belmont Abbey College (38% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College earn on average $4,000 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($41,900 vs. $37,900)
  • Eastern Kentucky University students graduate with a $3,305 lower median federal student loan debt than BAC graduates. ($23,695 vs. $27,000)
  • Eastern graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than BAC graduates. ($245 vs. $279)
  • More Eastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/