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Northern Illinois Illinois WKU UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT| Illinois State University | Eastern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Eastern | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Richmond, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 14,324 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #854 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | eku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Eastern | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $9,544 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $19,922 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $10,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $10,806 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $10,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 98% |
Admission |
ISU | Eastern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 15,821 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 10,174 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 64.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 26.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.39 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 940/1185 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2025 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | Eastern | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | Eastern | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $37,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 49% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $23,695 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $245 |
Diversity |
ISU | Eastern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | Eastern | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 9% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Eastern | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Eastern based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 14,324 students)
ISU vs. Eastern Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Eastern?
- Illinois State University is 24.1% more expensive to attend than Eastern for in-state tuition ($11,840.00 vs. $9,544.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.9% higher at ISU than Eastern Kentucky University ($23,681.00 vs. $19,922.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Kentucky University than ISU ($10,806 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 2.3% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,360 vs. $10,602)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than Illinois State University (98% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 9.8% larger than aid received Eastern Kentucky University ($11,619 vs. $10,583)
ISU vs. Eastern Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or Eastern? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Eastern or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 62 points higher than at Eastern (1028)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Eastern (22)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Eastern (3.39)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Eastern (64.3%)
ISU vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or Eastern? 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 Eastern and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Eastern Kentucky University (71% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $11,100 more per year than Eastern graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $37,900)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $1,695 lower median federal student loan debt than Eastern graduates. ($22,000 vs. $23,695)
- ISU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Eastern graduates. ($227 vs. $245)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 49%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/