EIU vs. CUW

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Concordia University Wisconsin? 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
Concordia University Wisconsin

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • CUW Mequon, WI
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • CUW Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • CUW 5,253
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • CUW Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • CUW #442
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • CUW Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • CUW Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • CUW

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • CUW $35,470
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • CUW $35,470
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • CUW $13,200
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • CUW $31,916
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • CUW $21,379
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • CUW 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • CUW 3,945
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • CUW 3,085
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • CUW 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • CUW 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • CUW
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • CUW 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • CUW 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • CUW A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • CUW Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • CUW
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • CUW 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • CUW
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • CUW Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • CUW

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • CUW 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • CUW
    • Business (40%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • CUW 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • CUW $46,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • CUW 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • CUW $23,925
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • CUW $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • CUW 42%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • CUW 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • CUW Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • CUW No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • CUW 72%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • CUW 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • CUW 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • CUW 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • CUW 3%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • CUW 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • CUW 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • CUW 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • CUW 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than CUW based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 5,253 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Concordia University Wisconsin is in Mequon, WI (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Concordia University Wisconsin 11:1.

EIU vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or CUW? 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 Illinois University than CUW ($13,787 vs. $31,916).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 7% lower than at Concordia University Wisconsin ($12,282 vs. $13,200).
  • Concordia University Wisconsin is 159.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $21,791 more per year; $35,470.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 118.7% higher at CUW than at Eastern Illinois University (about $19,253 more per year; $35,470.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Concordia University Wisconsin than at Eastern Illinois University (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students is 65% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($21,379 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. CUW Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresConcordia University Wisconsin 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; CUW - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman CUW students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at EIU (3.39).
  • CUW has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 14.1% at CUW.

EIU vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and CUW? 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.

  • Eastern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Concordia University Wisconsin's (58%).
  • Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $275 lower median loan debt than CUW graduates ($23,650 vs. $23,925).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CUW graduates ($244 vs. $247).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 52%)

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.