Eastern Illinois University
#4 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 46% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,989 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $12,786 B-
- 25% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 65% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Communications Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $26.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,278,907.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $26.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Eastern Illinois University Matters
Eastern Illinois University is a public university in Charleston, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,188
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose Eastern Illinois University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 65% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 880–1090. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,786 a year after grants and scholarships — 25% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,989 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 79% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.61 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 4,188 students call Eastern Illinois University home, with a 65% acceptance rate that opens doors to many. This university offers a diverse array of programs, with strong offerings in Business & Marketing, Education, and Health Professions.
Looking at outcomes, graduates from Eastern Illinois earn an average of $51,989 ten years after completing their degrees. While the graduation rate sits at 46%, the university attracts a student body that includes 29% Pell Grant recipients, indicating a commitment to supporting lower-income students.
The net price to attend is $12,786, and median student debt stands at $21,500. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing degrees in fields with solid job prospects. With a focus on practical skills and local connections, Eastern Illinois prepares students for the workforce while keeping education affordable.
Rankings
- #4 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Illinois
- #7 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best Colleges in Illinois
- #8 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
- #8 Best Master's Programs in Illinois
- #10 Best Psychology Colleges in Illinois
- #12 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Eastern Illinois University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern Illinois University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Eastern Illinois University, located in Charleston, Illinois, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,000. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1000
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- SAT Range
- 880–1090
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,482
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 11,584
- Admitted
- 7,873
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern Illinois University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eastern Illinois University is $16,217, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,786. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,828 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,679
- Out-of-State
- $16,217
- Avg Net Price
- $12,786
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 31%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,828
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,619
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,412
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,027
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Eastern Illinois University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Eastern Illinois University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,989, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,694
- 8 Years
- $48,019
- 10 Years
- $51,989
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 69%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (371)
- 35%
- 100% (371)
- 35%
- 100% (371)
- 35%
- 100% (371)
- 35%
How Eastern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Eastern Illinois University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Eastern Illinois University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,786/year ($51,144 total). Graduates earn $51,989 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,330,051 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,278,907 (26.0× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 46% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,144
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,330,051
- Net Return
- $1,278,907
- ROI Multiple
- 26.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,786
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Eastern Illinois University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eastern Illinois University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.97%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $136,001
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,907,337
- Investment Income
- $928,388
Top Programs
The fields Eastern Illinois University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 13% $60,214 early-career
- Education 11% $46,716 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $83,383 early-career
- Psychology 9% $27,230 early-career
- Humanities 8% $32,002 early-career
- Communications 8% $40,643 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $34,948 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $43,569 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Eastern Illinois University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern Illinois University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Eastern Illinois University, located in Charleston, Illinois, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 65% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,000. The graduation rate is roughly 46%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern Illinois University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eastern Illinois University is $16,217, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,786. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,828 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Eastern Illinois University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,989, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Eastern Illinois University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eastern Illinois University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.97%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Eastern Illinois University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Illinois University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Eastern Illinois University.
- Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · Close peer45% grad $54,163 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of South Carolina-UpstateSpartanburg, SC · Close peer43% grad $48,587 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Southern MainePortland, ME · Close peer43% grad $49,958 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, MO · Close peer57% grad $53,037 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Michigan-FlintFlint, MI · Close peer42% grad $53,230 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · Close peer52% grad $49,560 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Eastern Illinois University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Illinois University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.61, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note