EIU vs. Eastern

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University 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 Illinois University
Eastern Kentucky University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • Eastern Richmond, KY
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • Eastern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • Eastern 15,673
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • Eastern Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • Eastern #886
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • Eastern -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • Eastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • Eastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • Eastern $10,320
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • Eastern $21,230
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • Eastern $12,268
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • Eastern $12,279
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • Eastern $11,468
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • Eastern 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • Eastern 17,024
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • Eastern 13,212
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • Eastern 77.6%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • Eastern 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • Eastern 980
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • Eastern 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • Eastern 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • Eastern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • Eastern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • Eastern
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • Eastern 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • Eastern 880/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • Eastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • Eastern Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • Eastern 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Eastern
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • Eastern 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • Eastern $37,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • Eastern 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • Eastern $23,695
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • Eastern $245

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • Eastern 39%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • Eastern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • Eastern Very Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • Eastern No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • Eastern 85%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • Eastern 1%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • Eastern 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • Eastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • Eastern 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • Eastern 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • Eastern 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • Eastern 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, 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 EIU based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Eastern Kentucky University is in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Eastern Kentucky University 17:1.

EIU vs. Eastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU 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 EIU ($12,279 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Kentucky University are 0.1% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($12,268 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 32.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Eastern (about $3,359 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at Eastern than at Eastern Illinois University (about $5,013 more per year; $21,230.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Kentucky University than at Eastern Illinois University (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 13% larger than aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students ($12,960 vs. $11,468).

EIU vs. Eastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or Eastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Eastern and EIU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 10 points higher than at Eastern (980).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Eastern Kentucky University 880/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEastern Kentucky University 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; Eastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have the same average high school GPA (3.39) as students at Eastern (3.39).
  • Eastern has a higher acceptance rate (77.6%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 19.9% at Eastern.

EIU vs. Eastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and Eastern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Eastern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Eastern Kentucky University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Eastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $45 lower median loan debt than Eastern graduates ($23,650 vs. $23,695).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Eastern graduates ($244 vs. $245).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.