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Eastern Illinois University

Public Graduate Good 68/100

Eastern Illinois University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Charleston, Illinois

About Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Charleston, Illinois. It enrolls 4,188 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: eiu.edu

Acceptance: 65.4%
Graduation: 55.7%
Net Price: $12,786
Median Earnings (10yr): $51,989
Enrollment: 4,188
Student : Faculty: 15:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

68/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 29

Value 84

Affordability 62

Selectivity 39

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 65.4%, Eastern Illinois University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

65.4%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

880 – 1090

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Eastern Illinois University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 15.3 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Eastern Illinois University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,786 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$12,786

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

29%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

31%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $13,679
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $16,217
Room & Board (on-campus): $12,282
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,862
Books & Supplies: $150
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,944
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,194
Total Cost of Attendance: $26,996

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$9,828
$30,001 – $48,000

$8,619
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,412
$75,001 – $110,000

$15,665
Over $110,000

$21,027

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,612

10% percentile

$8,250

25% percentile

$21,500

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$35,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $16,463 ↓ $5,037

No Pell $15,000 ↓ $6,500

Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $6,500

Independent students $16,718 ↓ $4,782

Female students $16,500 ↓ $5,000

Male students $15,000 ↓ $6,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,746, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

56% of full-time students who enrolled at Eastern Illinois University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

56%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

71%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,989 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$51,989

Earning > $25K

81%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$40,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$53,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$43,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$44,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$47,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,300, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Eastern Illinois University is home to 4,188 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

4,188

Part-Time

11%

First-Generation

34%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 57.5% 2,408

Black 18.4% 770

Hispanic 10.2% 429

Other 3.3% 137

International 2.6% 107

Asian 1.5% 62

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Eastern Illinois University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote Charleston, Illinois

Housing

Strongly residential 4,304 beds for 4,188 students

Adult Learners

10% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Eastern Illinois University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 87 distinct programs across 23 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs

Engineering Tech

11 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

8 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)

5 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

6 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)

3 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Parks $50K ($38K–$64K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Illinois University is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

15:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$15,563

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$71M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$83,093

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

385 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	150	39%	$101,897
Associate Professors	57	15%	$88,776
Assistant Professors	58	15%	$76,526
Instructors	120	31%	$60,064

Pros & Cons of Eastern Illinois University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Eastern Illinois University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Modest first-year retention

Frequently Asked Questions about Eastern Illinois University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Eastern Illinois University.

Is Eastern Illinois University hard to get into?

Admissions at Eastern Illinois University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 65.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Eastern Illinois University?

Eastern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 65.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Eastern Illinois University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Eastern Illinois University scored between 880 and 1090 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

How much does Eastern Illinois University cost?

The average net price after aid at Eastern Illinois University is $12,786 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Eastern Illinois University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,989 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,786 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Eastern Illinois University known for?

Eastern Illinois University is best known for its programs in Industrial Production Tech, Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Eastern Illinois University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Eastern Illinois University are $51,989, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Eastern Illinois University accredited?

Yes. Eastern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Eastern Illinois University?

Eastern Illinois University enrolls 4,188 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Eastern Illinois University?

Eastern Illinois University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Eastern Illinois University a public or private college?

Eastern Illinois University is a Public institution.

Where is Eastern Illinois University located?

Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois.

What programs does Eastern Illinois University offer?

Eastern Illinois University offers 87 distinct programs. The most popular include Industrial Production Tech, Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Illinois University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Eastern Illinois University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.