EIU vs. VSU

Deciding between Eastern Illinois University and Virginia 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
Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • EIU Charleston, IL
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • EIU Remote Town
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • EIU 8,505
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • EIU Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EIU #688
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EIU -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • EIU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EIU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EIU $13,679
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EIU $16,217
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • EIU $12,282
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • EIU $13,787
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EIU $12,960
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EIU 95%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EIU 12,539
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • EIU 8,194
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EIU 65.3%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • EIU 9.8%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EIU 990
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • EIU
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • EIU 3.39
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EIU B+
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • EIU Extremely Easy
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • EIU Low
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • EIU
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • EIU 880/1090
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EIU Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EIU
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EIU 14:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EIU
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EIU 59%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EIU $43,500
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EIU 59%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EIU $23,650
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EIU $244
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EIU 43%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • EIU 57%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EIU Medium
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • EIU No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • EIU 68%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • EIU 1%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • EIU 19%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • EIU 6%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • EIU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EIU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EIU 2%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • EIU 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EIU 2%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EIU 90%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EIU 7%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Illinois University is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (8,505 students vs. 5,605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL (Remote Town setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Eastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Illinois University 14:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

EIU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or VSU? 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 VSU ($13,787 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 8% lower than at Virginia State University ($12,282 vs. $13,355).
  • Eastern Illinois University is 36.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $3,636 more per year; $13,679.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.7% higher at VSU than at Eastern Illinois University (about $6,433 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $16,217.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than at Virginia State University (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($12,960 vs. $12,447).

EIU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Illinois University (990) is 30 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Illinois University 880/1090; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EIU - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than EIU (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at EIU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

EIU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EIU and VSU? 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 Virginia State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Illinois University graduates have a $5,850 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($23,650 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, EIU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($244 vs. $305).
  • More EIU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU 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.