Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL · Public · Town (remote) · E.I.U. · EIU · Eastern Illinois
Public institution in Charleston, IL · 4,398 undergraduates · 68% acceptance rate · $51,989 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 25%Undergraduates
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $14,093602nd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $13,403859th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $15,879602nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $26,164763rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $21,500813th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $51,989965th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $42,6941,049th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 45.2%1,350th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 70.0%1,238th highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 67.8%560th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1010928th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 20800th highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 4,398543rd largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 15.0:11,317th smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 30.9%1,155th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 161 mi (MDW)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- Personal essay
- Optional / not required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 57 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions | bachelors | $64,493 | $70,176 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $60,771 | $50,856 |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $51,607 | $46,673 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $49,729 | $43,798 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $43,957 | $50,677 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $42,774 | — |
| MarketingBusiness | bachelors | $40,821 | $40,768 |
| Special Education and TeachingEducation | bachelors | $40,608 | $39,317 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusiness | bachelors | $39,873 | $36,848 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $39,639 | $41,565 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $39,249 | $34,603 |
| MusicVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | $38,289 | $36,668 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1895source
- Athletic nickname: "Panthers"source
- O'Brien Stadium seats about 10,000source
- Competes in NCAA Division Isource
- School colors: Blue and Greysource
- Mascot: Billy the Panthersource
- Campus size: about 320 acressource
- Formerly known as "Eastern Illinois State Normal School" (1899–1921)source
- Formerly known as "Eastern Illinois State Teachers College" (1921–1947)source
- Formerly known as "Eastern Illinois State College" (1947–1957)source
- Athletic conference: FCSsource
- Plays for the "Mid-America Classic" (since 1901)source
- Fight song: ""Eastern Loyalty (EIU Fight Song)""source
- Notable alum: John Malkovichsource
- Notable alum: Joan Allensource
- Notable alum: Burl Ivessource
Athletics — 11 sports
NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $4,592,020 (M $3,075,414 · W $1,516,606)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Key links
- Official websiteeiu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 144892)
- Compare colleges in ILRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in IllinoisEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Eastern Illinois University vs National Louis UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 11 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.