C+
Above Average
Score: 60/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
41/100 · earnings-weighted

Eastern Illinois University

4-Year Public
📍 Charleston, Illinois 61920
Outcomes
C+
64/100
Affordability
C+
58/100
Resources
C+
61/100
Experience
A
84/100
Prestige
C
40/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

8,804
Total Enrollment
45%
Graduation Rate
70%
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
68%
Acceptance Rate
$14,621
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Eastern Illinois University ▼

3% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$169,852
Avg Monthly Rent
$732
1-Year Change
+10.6%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Eastern Illinois University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$51,989
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$42,694
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$21,500
Median debt at graduation
47.4%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,000
Average SAT
20
Median ACT
29.4%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 41% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 33rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IL wage index 1.04). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Eastern Illinois University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$58,817$81,362+1%#27 of 51#34$22,000
Computer and Information Sciences$42,284$72,220-22%#369 of 459#380$21,500
Finance and Financial Management Services$51,370$70,704-15%#327 of 452#362$15,478
Accounting and Related Services$48,070$66,840-12%#552 of 796#640$22,229
Marketing$46,844$62,994-9%#339 of 516#380$22,625
Political Science and Government$28,721$61,519-3%#293 of 565#293$20,326
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$42,500$60,985-29%#120 of 126#119$24,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services—$60,473+3%#89 of 215#125$19,040
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$38,369$59,401-7%#113 of 178#127$23,250
Communication and Media Studies$37,778$57,887+3%#221 of 660#244$23,676
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies$50,862$54,791-2%#106 of 207#121$16,348
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$38,821$54,548+6%#93 of 345#149$27,000
Journalism—$54,038-4%#100 of 187#115—
Biology$31,278$53,725-6%#571 of 841#625$22,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$40,273$52,078-2%#249 of 476#293$18,750
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$34,511$50,502-7%#392 of 610#451$22,165
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions—$49,556-30%#239 of 253#238$26,000
Psychology$35,740$49,478-2%#560 of 1027#628$19,712
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$35,425$49,424-2%#30 of 55#35$21,500
Music$37,163$49,236+15%#66 of 268#80$26,000
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences$33,113$49,209+2%#16 of 49#27$25,000
Sociology$39,547$48,925-7%#316 of 462#337$25,000
Special Education and Teaching$43,955$47,566-6%#133 of 177#151$22,062
English Language and Literature$31,933$47,222-3%#340 of 576#375$24,348
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,582$43,190-9%#569 of 680#632$21,000
History$32,149$40,597-20%#436 of 459#446$20,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections$40,489—————
Fine and Studio Arts$26,213$39,923-3%#258 of 423#276$23,725

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Eastern Illinois University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $169,852
  • Avg rent near campus: $732/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 62474 (6.9% cap, Westfield)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where Eastern Illinois University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#8
Industrial Technology/Technician
of 29 schools
#8
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
of 19 schools
#15
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
of 22 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $9,624 $12,066
Total Cost (On-Campus) $27,619 $30,095

Financial Aid

97%
Receive Any Aid
53%
Receive Pell Grants
61%
Take Out Loans
$14,621
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$11,412
$30,001 - $48,000$9,774
$48,001 - $75,000$12,371
$75,001 - $110,000$19,132
$110,001+$21,672

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Industrial Technology/Technician 342 grads/yr Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other 338 grads/yr Psychology, General 96 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 92 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 88 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 75 grads/yr Communication, General 71 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 68 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 63 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 58 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 57 grads/yr Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 52 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 51 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 51 grads/yr Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General 47 grads/yr Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 46 grads/yr Curriculum and Instruction 44 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 38 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Police Science 38 grads/yr History, General 36 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Eastern Illinois University's top programs commonly pursue.

Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$65k/yr 74,600 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Psychologists, all other
$118k/yr 55,300 jobs
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$110k/yr 5,600 jobs
Clinical and counseling psychologists
$96k/yr 76,300 jobs
Psychology teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 52,500 jobs
Social science research assistants
$58k/yr 40,600 jobs
Natural sciences managers
$161k/yr 104,300 jobs

Student Demographics

8,804
Total Students
57%
Women
55%
Traditional Age (18-24)
3%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 54%
Hispanic 14%
Black 12%
Asian 4%
Two or More 2%
Non-Resident 10%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 89%
Off-Campus (Renters) 3%
With Family 8%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~247 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 61%
Hybrid (Some Online) 24%
Fully Online 15%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 55%
25-64 (Adult) 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Eastern Illinois University?
Eastern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 68%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Eastern Illinois University?
Tuition at Eastern Illinois University is $9,624 for in-state students and $12,066 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $14,621.
What is the graduation rate at Eastern Illinois University?
The graduation rate at Eastern Illinois University is 45%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Eastern Illinois University a good school?
Eastern Illinois University has a Repit College Score of 60/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Eastern Illinois University?
Eastern Illinois University has a total enrollment of 8,804 students.
Is there rental demand near Eastern Illinois University?
Yes! Approximately 3% of students at Eastern Illinois University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 247 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Eastern Illinois University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Eastern Illinois University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · 12,045 students
C+
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL · 4,661 students
C+
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · 20,989 students
C+
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL · 5,504 students
B
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · 11,359 students
C+
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL · 7,073 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology