VCM vs. Eastern

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Eastern 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 Kentucky University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • Eastern 15,673
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • Eastern #886
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • Eastern -
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • Eastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • Eastern $10,320
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • Eastern $21,230
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • Eastern $12,268
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • Eastern $12,279
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • Eastern $11,468
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • Eastern 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • Eastern 17,024
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • Eastern 13,212
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • Eastern 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • Eastern 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • Eastern 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • Eastern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • Eastern
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • Eastern 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • Eastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • Eastern 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • Eastern 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • Eastern $37,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • Eastern 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • Eastern $23,695
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • Eastern $245

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • Eastern 39%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • Eastern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • Eastern Very Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • Eastern No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • Eastern 85%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • Eastern 1%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • Eastern 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • Eastern 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • Eastern 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • Eastern 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Kentucky University is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 323 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Eastern Kentucky University is in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Eastern Kentucky University 17:1.

VCM vs. Eastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or Eastern? 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 Eastern Kentucky University than VCM ($12,279 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 12.4% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($12,268 vs. $14,008).
  • VanderCook College of Music is 199.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Eastern (about $20,590 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.6% higher at VCM than at Eastern Kentucky University (about $9,680 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $21,230.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than at Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 103.3% larger than aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students ($23,317 vs. $11,468).

VCM vs. Eastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or Eastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Eastern and VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at VanderCook College of Music (1030) is 50 points higher than at Eastern (980).
  • Incoming Eastern students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Eastern Kentucky University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; Eastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027; Eastern Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Eastern students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Eastern (77.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 19.9% at Eastern.

VCM vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM and Eastern? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • VanderCook College of Music's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Eastern Kentucky University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Kentucky University have median earnings of about $37,900 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for VCM.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Kentucky University graduates have a $3,305 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($23,695 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Eastern graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($245 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 49%)

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.