EIU vs. MSU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Midwestern State 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
Midwestern State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • MSU Wichita Falls, TX
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • MSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • MSU 5,324
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • MSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • MSU #878
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • MSU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • MSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • MSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • MSU $10,580
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • MSU $12,530
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • MSU $11,124
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • MSU $11,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • MSU $11,037
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • MSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • MSU 7,803
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • MSU 7,297
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • MSU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • MSU 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • MSU 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • MSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • MSU 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • MSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • MSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • MSU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • MSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • MSU 910/1100
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • MSU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • MSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • MSU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • MSU
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Business (22%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • MSU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • MSU $44,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • MSU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • MSU $22,299
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • MSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • MSU 36%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • MSU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • MSU High
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • MSU No
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • MSU 52%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • MSU 3%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • MSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • MSU 17%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • MSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • MSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • MSU 4%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • MSU 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • MSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • MSU 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • MSU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than MSU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 5,324 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Midwestern State University is in Wichita Falls, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Midwestern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Midwestern State University 18:1.

EIU vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or MSU? 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 Midwestern State University than EIU ($11,215 vs. $13,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Midwestern State University are 9.4% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($11,124 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 29.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU (about $3,099 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,580.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at EIU than at Midwestern State University (about $3,687 more per year; $16,217.00 vs. $12,530.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Midwestern State University (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Midwestern State University students ($12,960 vs. $11,037).

EIU vs. MSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Midwestern State University (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; Midwestern State University 910/1100.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresMidwestern State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; MSU - Test-free.
  • Enrolled freshman EIU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at MSU (3.2).
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 12.9% at MSU.

EIU vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and MSU? 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 Midwestern State University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Midwestern State University earn a median of about $800 more per year than EIU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Midwestern State University graduates have a $1,351 lower median loan debt than EIU graduates ($22,299 vs. $23,650).
  • Among borrowers, MSU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EIU graduates ($230 vs. $244).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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.