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EIU at a Glance


Campus

Location: 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, Ill. (; Directions)

Campus Size: 320 acres (Campus Map)

Year Founded: 1895

Administrators:

  • President: Jay Gatrell
  • Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs: Ryan Hendrickson
  • Vice President for Business Affairs: Matt Bierman
  • Vice President for Student Affairs: Anne Flaherty
  • Vice President for Enrollment Management: Josh Norman
  • Vice President for University Advancement: Mindy Spencer

Governing Body: EIU Board of Trustees

Residential Campus: Housing options include 11 residence halls, Greek Court, University Court and University Apartments.


Academics

Enrollment: 8,857

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's and Specialist's

Colleges and Schools:

Fields of Study: 51 undergraduate degree programs; 32 graduate degree programs; 10 post-baccalaureate certificate programs.

International Study: We welcome many international students and provide opportunities for American students to .

Graduation Rate: 57 percent

Faculty-Student Ratio: 1:15

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparedness


Cost of Attendance, 2025-2026 Academic Year

Tuition and Fees: The following tuition rates are for new, full-time students entering in Fall 2025-2026. Undergraduate rates represent the cost of 15 semester hours per semester; graduate rates represent the cost of 11 semester hours per semester. Costs vary according to year of entry and state of residency; see this page for more specific information. These numbers reflect the annual cost (fall and spring semesters combined).

Undergraduate 2025-2026 Costs

Cost Item Illinois & Border States** Non-Border States
Tuition Per Credit Hour $347.65 $434.56
Tuition (15 hrs FA and SP) $10,429.50 $13,036.80
Fees $4,201.80 $4,201.80
Textbook Rental Fee* $262.50 $262.50
Room and Board (12+ Meal Plan - Most Popular) $13,020.00 $13,020.00
Estimated 2025-2026 Cost $27,913.80 $30,521.10

When computing the financial aid budget seen on your award letter, an estimated average of 3 years costs is used. We also include the all-access meal plan to allow for 3 meals a day. The most popular meal plan is the 12+ option. You can decide what will work best for you.

Other indirect costs includes other everyday expenses students might incur. Examples include: gas money, school supplies, costs for toiletries, etc., or social activities. These expenses vary from student to student and will NOT be charged to the Eastern bill; they can be covered through parental support, student employment, or savings. Federal loan fees of $100 are also allowed in the budget. Please borrow wisely.

Graduate 2025-2026 Costs

Cost Item In-State Out-of-State
Tuition Per Credit Hour $353.72 $848.93
Tuition (11 hrs FA and SP) $7,781.84 $18,676.46
Fees $3,211.32 $3,211.32
Textbook Rental Fee* $192.50 $192.50
Room and Board (12+ Meal Plan - Most Popular) $13,020.00 $13,020.00
Estimated 2025-2026 Cost $24,205.66 $35,100.28


Student Recreation

The Student Recreation Center serves more than 2,000 students daily with:

  • Six indoor basketball/volleyball courts.
  • A large fitness center with aerobic and body part machines.
  • An eighth-mile jogging track.
  • A free-weight area.
  • An aerobic/multi-purpose room.
  • A dance studio.
  • A lobby/lounge.

Activities Offered: Intramural sport activities include a wide variety of team sports and special events.


Student Organizations

Registered Student Organizations: Eastern has more than 170 recognized student organizations.

Greek Life: Thirty fraternities and sororities.

Student Life Office website: /slo/


Athletics

Nickname: Panthers

School Colors: Blue and Gray

Competition Level: NCAA Division I (football is NCAA Football Championship Subdivision)

Conferences: Ohio Valley (baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; men's and women's golf; football; women's soccer; softball; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field; volleyball), The Summit League (men's and women's swimming, men's soccer)

Athletics Website:


Alumni

Number of Alumni: More than 115,000 across the nation.

EIU in the NFL: EIU has a strong alumni presence in the NFL, including alumnus Tony Romo, 14-year quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and now the lead football analyst for CBS Sports; Sean Payton, head coach of the 2010 Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints; Mike Shanahan, former head coach of the Denver Broncos (who won two Super Bowl championships on his watch) and Washington Redskins; Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers and a past member of two Super Bowl champion New England Patriots teams. EIU is also proud of our many alumni serving as assistant coaches in the NFL.

Other Notable Alumni: former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar; actors Burl Ives, Jerry Van Dyke, Joan Allen and John Malkovich; UFC champion Matt Hughes; Metropolitan Opera tenor Matthew Polenzani; Illinois and National Teacher of the Year Joe Fatheree; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ted Gregory; Jimmy John's founder and chairman of the board Jimmy John Liautaud; ESPN radio personality John Jurkovic; former CNN sports anchor Larry Smith; former professional athletes Kevin Duckworth, Marty Pattin, Kevin Seitzer and Jeff Gossett; animal advocate Joan Embery; and many more.

Alumni Association Website: /alumniassociation


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