Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
Public four-year university in Charleston, IL that costs an average of $12,717 a year after financial aid, admits 65% of applicants and graduates 50% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$12,717
Acceptance rate
65%
Graduation rate
50%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$55,885
PublicTown (remote)4,188 undergraduates
Cost of EIU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $26,962 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $14,654 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $17,261 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $13,020 |
| Books and supplies | $150 |
| Average net price after aid | $12,717 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $9,813 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $9,968 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $9,713 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $14,840 |
| $110,001+ | $20,729 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with EIU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 65% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,000 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 460–560 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 420–530 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 50% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 72% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $45,299 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $55,885 |
| Rank in Illinois (earnings) | 50th of 65 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,623 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $223 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 31% |
| Students with federal loans | 30% |
Majors and programs at EIU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (53)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 106 | $81,372 | $22,888 |
| Marketing | 48 | $55,258 | $17,750 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 88 | $54,851 | $17,198 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 43 | $50,828 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 49 | $49,064 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 175 | $47,879 | $20,745 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 44 | $46,826 | $15,216 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 41 | $46,444 | $23,954 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 68 | $45,375 | $16,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 38 | $45,154 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 83 | $43,648 | $22,872 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 59 | $42,588 | $21,016 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 50 | $41,387 | $25,226 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 61 | $40,082 | $24,677 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 172 | $39,999 | $18,079 |
| Psychology | 201 | $39,332 | $18,109 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 160 | $39,106 | $20,087 |
| Music | 31 | $38,553 | $21,419 |
| Biology | 108 | $37,810 | $22,646 |
| History | 48 | $35,442 | $21,500 |
| English Language and Literature | 57 | $34,311 | $16,815 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 54 | $32,430 | $17,864 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 66 | $30,331 | $22,478 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 17 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 8 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 44 | — | $15,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 14 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 7 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 27 | — | — |
| Construction Management | 20 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 11 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 10 | — | — |
| Economics | 5 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 15 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 11 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 9 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 6 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Journalism | 26 | — | $20,000 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 23 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 12 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 13 | — | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 6 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 13 | — | — |
| Physics | 11 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 40 | — | $19,000 |
| Sociology | 54 | — | $23,375 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 9 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (28)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 117 | $69,703 | $20,250 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 696 | $67,636 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 84 | $64,859 | $23,433 |
| Public Health | 23 | $62,821 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 27 | $59,659 | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 44 | $57,219 | $30,750 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 40 | $56,223 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 68 | $56,068 | $34,952 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 90 | $55,988 | $15,527 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 106 | $54,265 | $17,580 |
| English Language and Literature | 53 | $51,422 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 65 | $48,845 | $27,856 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 42 | $47,761 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 51 | $47,542 | — |
| Biology | 56 | $42,646 | $20,572 |
| Chemistry | 3 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 27 | — | — |
| Economics | 3 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 1 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 9 | — | — |
| History | 19 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 17 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Music | 39 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 39 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 34 | — | — |
| Systems Science and Theory | 15 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 8 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (13)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 11 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 1 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 15 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 20 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 6 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 42 | — | — |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | 685 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 1 | — | — |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 11 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 19 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Illinois
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $9,377 | 75% | $56,278 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | $10,018 | 71% | $57,175 |
| Governors State University | University Park | $15,833 | 48% | $61,863 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | $7,528 | 86% | $64,479 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $12,554 | 87% | $57,388 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $13,111 | 98% | $59,436 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | $14,505 | 70% | $61,351 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | $7,273 | 43% | $48,395 |
About EIU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Charleston, IL |
| Setting | Town (remote) |
| Undergraduates | 4,188 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | eiu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is EIU's acceptance rate?
Eastern Illinois University admits 65% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,000 on the SAT.
How much does EIU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $26,962 a year (tuition and fees: $14,654 in-state, $17,261 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $12,717 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $9,813.
How much do EIU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $55,885 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 50th of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($81,372 a year after graduation).
What is EIU's graduation rate?
50% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 72% of first-year students return for a second year.