EIU vs. PVAMU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Prairie View A & M 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
Prairie View A & M University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • PVAMU Prairie View, TX
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • PVAMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • PVAMU 9,922
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • PVAMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • PVAMU #1003
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • PVAMU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • PVAMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • PVAMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • PVAMU $11,299
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • PVAMU $26,874
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • PVAMU $10,317
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • PVAMU $14,448
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • PVAMU $15,769
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • PVAMU 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • PVAMU 12,936
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • PVAMU 10,259
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • PVAMU 79.3%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • PVAMU 18.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • PVAMU 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • PVAMU 18
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • PVAMU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • PVAMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • PVAMU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • PVAMU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • PVAMU 16/21
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • PVAMU 860/1080
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • PVAMU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • PVAMU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • PVAMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • PVAMU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • PVAMU $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • PVAMU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • PVAMU $28,955
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • PVAMU $299

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • PVAMU 34%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • PVAMU 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • PVAMU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • PVAMU Yes
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • PVAMU 3%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • PVAMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • PVAMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • PVAMU 1%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • PVAMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • PVAMU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • PVAMU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • PVAMU 14%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie View A & M University is larger than EIU based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 8,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Prairie View A & M University is in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Prairie View A & M University 17:1.

EIU vs. PVAMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or PVAMU? 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 PVAMU ($13,787 vs. $14,448).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 16% lower than at Eastern Illinois University ($10,317 vs. $12,282).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 21.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVAMU (about $2,380 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $11,299.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.7% higher at PVAMU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $10,657 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Prairie View A & M University (95% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 21.7% larger than aid received by Eastern Illinois University students ($15,769 vs. $12,960).

EIU vs. PVAMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 20 points higher than at PVAMU (970).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Prairie View A & M University 860/1080.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPrairie View A & M University 16/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; PVAMU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
  • PVAMU has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 18.4% at PVAMU.

EIU vs. PVAMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and PVAMU? 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 Prairie View A & M University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than PVAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $5,305 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($23,650 vs. $28,955).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($244 vs. $299).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 28%)

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.