Eastern Illinois University (EIU, EIU, E.I.U.) Academics and Admissions

Academics

Founded in 1895, Eastern Illinois University (EIU) is a comprehensive state university located in Charleston, Illinois. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. It has consistently been recognized as one of the top Midwestern public universities by U.S. News & World Report, and has been named one of The Princeton Review’s Best Midwestern Colleges. The university is divided into seven schools: the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Sciences, the Honors College, the School of Continuing Education, the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences. Eastern offers 47 bachelor’s and 27 master’s degree programs in education, business, arts, sciences, and humanities. There are also six post-baccalaureate certificate programs. The most popular majors at Eastern include: business, education, English, and liberal arts & sciences, and humanities.

Academic support services and other programs include the Center for Academic Support and Achievement, the Office of Minority Affairs, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and the Office of Study Abroad.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Information Summary

Ranks 33rd in Illinois and 782nd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	83.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$24,305
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	22 / 1110
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	13 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	70% / 100%
Enrollment Total (all students)	7,526

Admissions

Applicants must complete the (online or paper) application form and submit a personal statement explaining his or her plans to achieve academic excellence at the university. Students must also submit official high school transcripts, an official SAT or ACT score report, and letters of recommendation from academic instructors and counselors. The deadline for submitting an application is rolling, but space is limited and students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Check with the Office of Admissions for more information, such as the priority application deadline.

Graduate students, transfer students, home-schooled students, and international students may need to use different procedures, so they should refer to the university’s website or contact the Office of Admissions for more information about the admissions process and application requirements.

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Financial Aid

Eastern offers a wide variety of financial aid programs. More than 50 percent of the university’s undergraduate students receive some form of state, federal, private, or institutional financial assistance. Forms of aid that are available for students at the university include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. The university also has a limited number of scholarships and awards that come directly from the school. All students who wish to be considered for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1st each year. The priority filing deadline date is March 1. If selected for verification, students will also need to complete a Federal Verification Worksheet and/or additional documents. Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office for more information and assistance with completing the financial aid application process.

The university also has a special textbook rental program, which saves students an average of several hundreds of dollars per semester. The rental fee is included in the school’s regular tuition and fees.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4389th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Illinois.

Students

More than 40 percent of the students at EIU live on campus in one of the twelve residence halls, fraternity housing, or in the University Apartments. Six of the residence halls are co-ed, while four are only for female students and two are only for male students. Each year, the residence halls participate in competitions and community service activities. The Residential Learning Communities in the residence halls help students succeed academically and socially, while giving them the opportunity to explore leadership, social justice, and community engagement opportunities. Interesting aspects of the Residential Learning Communities include Panther House Calls, during which faculty and staff visit the residence halls and interact with students so that they get to know one another better. The Charleston Chew Program allows students to invite faculty members to eat with them in one of the residential dining centers. University Housing & Dining Services sponsors this program by covering the cost of the faculty member’s meal.

Eastern has more than 230 recognized student organizations. They include academic, political, social, athletic, student government, religious, service, multicultural, and honor groups. Greek Life is a huge part of the university’s student life, with nearly 30 active fraternities and sororities on campus. Popular programs and special events that are held annually include Family Weekend, Quakin’ the Quad, First Night, Up All Nites, Homecoming Week, concerts, Pantherpalooza, Pantherstock, MBEIU Pageant, and the iLEAD workshop series.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Known as the Panthers and sporting the school’s colors of blue and gray, the university’s intercollegiate teams compete at the NCAA Division I level, with the exception of the football team, which competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. The following teams compete in the Ohio Valley Conference: football; men’s and women’s basketball; baseball; softball; men’s and women’s golf; men’s and women’s cross country; men’s and women’s tennis; men’s and women’s soccer; men’s and women’s swimming; men’s and women’s indoor & outdoor track and field; and volleyball. The men’s soccer team competes in the Missouri Valley conference, while the women’s rugby team is independent. The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams participate in the Summit League.

Intramural sports available include basketball, softball, ultimate frisbee, soccer, volleyball, walleyball, dodgeball, wiffleball, kickball, flag football, flickerball, and indoor soccer.

The Student Recreation Center has a fully equipped fitness center with aerobic, cardiovascular, and weight equipment; 6 indoor basketball/volleyball courts; an eighth-mile jogging track; a dance studio; and a lounge.

Alumni

Charlotte Martin, singer and songwriter
Larry Smith, CNN Headline News sports anchor
John Malkovich, actor
Paul N. Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer of Farmers Insurance Group
Marty Pattin, MLB All-Star pitcher
Ted Gregory, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Tony Romo, NFL player and starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys

Eastern Illinois University