EIU vs. KWC

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Kentucky Wesleyan College? 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
Kentucky Wesleyan College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • KWC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • KWC 887
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • KWC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • KWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • KWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • KWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • KWC $34,673
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • KWC $34,673
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • KWC $11,855
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • KWC $20,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • KWC $25,538
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • KWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • KWC 2,113
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • KWC 1,513
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • KWC 71.6%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • KWC 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • KWC 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • KWC 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • KWC 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • KWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • KWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • KWC 16/23
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • KWC 890/1130
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • KWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • KWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • KWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • KWC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • KWC $38,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • KWC 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • KWC $22,907
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • KWC $236

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • KWC 50%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • KWC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • KWC Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • KWC No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • KWC 73%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • KWC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • KWC 1%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • KWC 0%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • KWC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • KWC 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • KWC 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • KWC 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than KWC based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 887 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Kentucky Wesleyan College is in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1.

EIU vs. KWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or KWC? 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 KWC ($13,787 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 3.5% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($11,855 vs. $12,282).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 153.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than EIU (about $20,994 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $13,679.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 113.8% higher at KWC than at Eastern Illinois University (about $18,456 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College than at Eastern Illinois University (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 97.1% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($25,538 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. KWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1010) is 20 points higher than at EIU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresKentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; KWC - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman EIU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at KWC (3.3).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 17.7% at KWC.

EIU vs. KWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and KWC? 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 Kentucky Wesleyan College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates have a $743 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,907 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, KWC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($236 vs. $244).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KWC students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 54%)

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.