Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL 61920
About Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a public research university in Charleston, Illinois, serving roughly 4,188 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 65.35% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,989 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Eastern Illinois University charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,679).
- Versus the Illinois median, sticker tuition is 3% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 47.36%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $51,989.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Eastern Illinois University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 917% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Eastern Illinois University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 77 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois University | $13,679 | $12,786 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Illinois (state median) | $13,248 | $7,399 | 131 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 7% below published tuition at Eastern Illinois University
Key findings
- Eastern Illinois University's average net price ($12,786) is 7% below published tuition ($13,679).
- Eastern Illinois University charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,679).
- Versus the Illinois median, sticker tuition is 3% above.
Eastern Illinois University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,679
Finding Eastern Illinois University charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,679. That is about 2.5× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Illinois median ($13,248), sticker tuition is 3% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 15% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Eastern Illinois University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Eastern Illinois University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Eastern Illinois University is $12,786.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,786 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,387 above the Illinois median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $2,185 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Eastern Illinois University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 7% lower after grants and scholarships.
Eastern Illinois University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Eastern Illinois University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$13,679
Out-of-state tuition
$16,217
Avg. net price
$12,786
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,828 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,619 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,412 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $15,665 |
| $110,001+ | $21,027 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $54,716. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Eastern Illinois University is known for
Top program completions
- Industrial Technology/Technician342
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other338
- Psychology, General96
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General92
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies88
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 10% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1000
- Midpoint ACT: 20
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Eastern Illinois University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Eastern Illinois University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Eastern Illinois University.
Campus
Location
Charleston, IL
City / state
- ZIP
- 61920
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 15% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Great Lakes
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
4,188
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 8,194
- Graduate
- 1,720
- Full-time share
- 89%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 29.41%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Eastern Illinois University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Eastern Illinois University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Eastern Illinois University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $11,144 | $28,124 | $17,740 |
| 2014 | $11,108 | $28,088 | $17,127 |
| 2015 | $11,312 | $13,442 | $16,174 |
| 2016 | $11,580 | $13,740 | $15,404 |
| 2017 | $11,678 | $13,868 | $14,841 |
| 2018 | $11,803 | $14,023 | $13,851 |
| 2019 | $11,989 | $14,269 | $14,607 |
| 2020 | $12,136 | $14,447 | $13,098 |
| 2021 | $12,562 | $14,930 | $12,872 |
| 2022 | $13,101 | $15,528 | $12,388 |
| 2023 | $13,403 | $15,879 | $14,093 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1000 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 20 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Eastern Illinois University reported total enrollment of about 4,188 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (57.5%), Black or African American (18.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (10.2%). About 29.41% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Eastern Illinois University in 2024 is 4,188 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,194 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,720 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
71.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
26.51% 100% Completion Time
47.36% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 26.51% of students graduating from Eastern Illinois University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Industrial Technology/Technician: 73% male / 27% female
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other: 73% male / 27% female
- Psychology, General: 20% male / 80% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Eastern Illinois University graduates earn a median of $51,989 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Eastern Illinois University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $51,989. Median federal loan debt: $21,500. Average net price used in cost models: $12,786.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Eastern Illinois University graduates report median earnings of $51,989 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Eastern Illinois University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (77 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Eastern Illinois University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Eastern Illinois University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Eastern Illinois University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$70.5M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Illinois median 2.5× the median ($28.5M)
- Great Lakes median 2.2× the median ($31.8M)
- U.S. median 2.7× the median ($26.4M)
- Illinois median 0.73× the median ($15,173)
- Great Lakes median 0.66× the median ($16,690)
- U.S. median 0.91× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 77.1%
- Illinois median 26.3 pp above median (50.8%)
- Great Lakes median 19.1 pp above median (58.1%)
- U.S. median 19.2 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,482
- Illinois median 1.1× the median ($8,563)
- Great Lakes median 1.2× the median ($8,046)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,847
- Illinois median 1.4× the median ($7,575)
- Great Lakes median 1.4× the median ($7,690)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Eastern Illinois University at a glance
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a public institution in Charleston, IL, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Industrial Technology/TechnicianEngineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, OtherPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian57.5%Black or African American18.4%Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Eastern Illinois University
Other campuses in Charleston, IL when available, plus nearby institutions in Illinois.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Illinois, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eastern Illinois University located?
Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, IL.
What is Eastern Illinois University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Eastern Illinois University is 65.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 11,648 applicants and 7,892 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Eastern Illinois University's tuition?
Eastern Illinois University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,679 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $12,786 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Eastern Illinois University cost?
Reported tuition is $13,679 and average net price is $12,786 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,282 annually.
Why is Eastern Illinois University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Eastern Illinois University, published tuition is $13,679 while average net price is $12,786—about 7% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Eastern Illinois University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,786), completion (47.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($51,989). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Eastern Illinois University?
Eastern Illinois University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,194 students, White (57.5%), Black or African American (18.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Eastern Illinois University?
About 34.2% of students at Eastern Illinois University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Eastern Illinois University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Eastern Illinois University reports midpoint SAT about 1000 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn?
Median earnings are $42,694 six years after entry and $51,989 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Eastern Illinois University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Eastern Illinois University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,500.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.