A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at EIU are primarily White with a smaller Black population. The school has medium racial diversity. 32% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
68%
|
| Black |
19%
|
| Hispanic |
6%
|
| Asian |
1%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
2%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
2%
|
There are 38% more female students than male students enrolled at Eastern Illinois University with a gender ratio of 58% women to 42% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, EIU has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is slightly less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
42%
|
| Women |
58%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
3,721
|
| Women |
5,136
|
EIU serves a very low number of students outside of Illinois, with 91 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
91%
|
| Out of State |
7%
|
| Foreign |
2%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
53% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 14% |
| Part time Undergrads | 11.5% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=144892 IPEDS survey data for Eastern Illinois University.