Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $26,996. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Illinois residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $13,679 | $16,217 |
| Housing & meals | $11,298 | $11,298 |
| Books & supplies | $150 | $150 |
| Personal & travel | $2,768 | $2,768 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$899 | −$899 |
| Total cost of attendance | $26,996 | $29,534 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at EIU
What EIU reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
EIU net price compared with other Illinois colleges
EIU has the 8th-lowest average net price of 52 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dominican University | $11,745 | 55% | $60,327 |
| 5 | Governors State University | $12,329 | 22% | $58,169 |
| 6 | Chicago State University | $12,335 | 15% | $42,778 |
| 7 | National Louis University | $12,641 | 30% | $45,799 |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University | $12,786 | 47% | $51,989 |
| 9 | Western Illinois University | $12,937 | 45% | $54,163 |
| 10 | University of St Francis | $13,006 | 67% | $63,926 |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $13,297 | 62% | $53,390 |
| 12 | Northern Illinois University | $13,391 | 49% | $57,808 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Illinois colleges →
Why EIU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois University | 65% | $12,786 | 47% | $51,989 | This school |
| Western Illinois University | 71% | $12,937 | 45% | $54,163 | |
| Northeastern Illinois University | 75% | $14,109 | 22% | $52,234 | |
| University of Illinois Springfield | 86% | $9,833 | 53% | $57,103 | |
| Governors State University | 48% | $12,329 | 22% | $58,169 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Eastern Illinois University would cost you $151 less per year than Western Illinois University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Eastern Illinois University, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$1,585).
- Western Illinois University gives aided families $1,107 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Illinois resident | EIU | Western Illinois University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $13,679 | $15,264 | −$1,585 |
| Books & supplies | $150 | $1,200 | −$1,050 |
| Housing & meals | $11,298 | $10,920 | +$378 |
| Personal & travel | $2,768 | $1,776 | +$992 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$899 | −$906 | +$7 |
| Sticker price | $26,996 | $28,254 | −$1,258 |
| Average grants | −$14,210 | −$15,317 | +$1,107 |
| You pay | $12,786 | $12,937 | −$151 |
“+” means EIU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
EIU cost questions
How much is tuition at EIU?
Tuition and fees are $13,679 a year for Illinois residents and $16,217 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending EIU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $26,996 a year for Illinois residents living on campus and about $29,534 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at EIU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $12,786 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $9,828; $48–75k pay $11,412; $110k+ pay $21,027. These figures are for Illinois residents.
Does EIU give merit scholarships?
For fall 2025, 89 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Eastern Illinois University, averaging $4,534 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 79% of it met on average.
How much debt do EIU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $15,722, and 6.1% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
Is EIU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Eastern Illinois University overview